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SELECTIONS

FROM THE

LETTERS, DESPATCHES, AND OTHER STATE PAPERS

PRESERVED IN THE

BOMBAY SECRETARIAT.

HOME SERIES,

VOL. I.

EDITED BY

(Sir) GEORGE wrrORREST, B.A., (lZ4£ - '32.6 X*<*

ELPIIIXSTOXE COLLEGE, FELLOW OF THE BOMBAY UXIVERSITV.

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PRINTED AT THE

GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS.

1887.

i Moa

rf^Mr^ ^H

PREFACE.

The last volume of the Selections from the State Papers preserved in the Bombay Secre- tariat comprised all the documents regarding the history of the Marathas from their founder Shivaji to their defeat at Assaye. The present volumes comprise all the important do- cuments regarding the internal administration of the Bombay Presidency from the foundation of the Factory at Surat to Wellington's great victory which made the English masters of India. In the letters and narratives of the chief actors we have here related the earli' at domestic history of our Indian Empire. In these volumes we can trace the gradual change in the servants of the Company from factors to soldiers and rulers of men. The papers have been printed, letter for letter, exactly as they are in the original manuscript ; and each proof has been carefully collated with the original to see that no change has b made. Occasionally words have occurred not easily to be accounted for, and hence it is also likely to occur that, when a reader thinks he has alighted on a blunder, he has on a word that has been transferred from the manuscript with unusual care. In a country like India, where manuscript records are liable to so many perils, something approaching to facsi- mile was thought desirable. Owing to the decayed state of the paper and to the ink having spread, considerable difficulty has been experienced in deciphering the early documents. Some leaves unfortunately crumbled to pieces the moment they were touched. Considering that these documents have lain neglected for a century in a small damp room, it is a matter of con- gratulation that so many have escaped destruction. Even where the dangers just adverted to have been escaped, the difficulties presented to a modern reader by manuscripts no doubt perfectly intelligible to those for whose perusal they were intended, are by no means incon- siderable. An average specimen of the early correspondence is given in facsimile at the beginning of the Surat Letters.

At the end of the second volume are published the earliest treaties made with the Por- tuguese. The treaty of marriage between King Charles II and the Infanta Catherine of Portugal, dated 23rd June 1661, by which the Crown of Portugal ceded and granted to the Crown of England the Island and Harbour of Bombay in full sovereignty is given together with the Secret Article, regarding which there has been a considerable amount of unnecessary mys- tery. From the eleventh article of the treaty it will be seen that Bombay was not given merely as part of a dower, but granted to the English Crown to enable the two nations to guard their respective dominions and interests against the aggressions and encroachments of the Dutch. By the secret article of the treaty the King of England bound himself to " exert his whole strength and power in order to establish a solid and lasting peace between the most serene King of Portugal and the States General of the United Netherlands," and, if the States General refused to make peace, Charles bound himself " to defend and protect the possessions of the Portuguese in the East Indies," and to obtain restitution to the Crown of Portugal of such Portuguese settlements in the East Indies as the Dutch might, subsequent to the treaty, obtain possession of. In the appendix is also published the treaty or articles on which Antonio de Mello e Castro delivered up the island of Bombay to Humphrey Cook, 1 4th January 1665. After the Portuguese treaties is now printed for the first time the famous convention made and entered into between Gerald Aungier and the people of Bombay. b 1255-»-

11 PREFACE.

After the papers relating to our first connection with Bombay will be found "Selections from the Bantam Letters." The earliest letter is dated Syam, Nov. 15th, 1679. The writer states — " They now make g^. quantityes of porcellain in Japan. I have seen some p.ticullL pieces com- parable to any made in China of late yeares, but generally 'tis not altogether soe good, & an extraordinary abundance yi came yL last year rendered it very cheape." The Bantam letters are followed by the Journal of Nadir Shah's residence at Carmenia, which gives a vivid picture of the atrocities committed by that cruel and capricious tyrant. The writer Mr. Graves describes the greatest warrior Persia has ever produced as " about five foot ten inches high and very well set, and notwithstanding his age and fatigue of life he has gone through, walks very strong and upright, and to appearance, if no accident happens to him, may live this twenty years." The last document printed in the second volume is a Diary of Transactions on an Embassy to Borneo Proper by order of John Herbert, Esquire, Chief, Balambangan(1774). The island of Balambangan off the north of Borneo was granted to the English in 1761 by a Sultan of Sulu and remained in their possession till 1775 when the Council and establishment moved to Labuan. The notes to the Diary have been kindly supplied to me by the Hon. Mr. Treacher, Governor of the possessions of the British North Borneo Company.

In order to make the Selections more intelligible to the general reader I have thought it advisable to prefix to them a short historical introduction. In the introduction I have supplied gaps in the Records by information derived from old books of travels from which the most accurate and complete picture of manners and the state of society can be drawn.

It affords me much pleasure to offer my best thanks to Mr. Javerilal Umiashankar for his notes on the land tenures of Gujarat, and to again acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered me in the preparation of these volumes by Mr. Purshottam Balkrishna Joshi, whose services were placed at my disposal by Government.

Secretariat, Bombay, 1 August 1887. J

G. W. FORREST.

CONTENTS.

Paois

I. Introduction ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ,_|i;

II. Selections feom the Surat Letters, 1630—1700 ... ... ... 3 — 116

III. Selections feom the Bombay Letters, 1677—1742 ... ... ... 117 176

IV. Selections from the Scrat Diaries, 1660—1781 ... ... ... 177 — 450

V. Index

i — i

INTRODUCTION.

After roaming over the Indian seas, English enterprise first furled its wandering sail at the port of Surat, and there founded a small factory, which afterwards grew into that stately fabric our Empire in the East. The province of Gujardt, of which Surat is one of the chief towns, has, on account of its natural advantages for both agriculture and commerce, from the earliest times occupied an important position in the history of Hindostan. " Goozerat," say« the renowned Italian traveller, " is a great kingdom. The people are idolaters and have a peculiar language and a king of their own, and are tributary to no one." Gujarat, according to the permanent boundaries indicated by natural formation and the language of the people, b about equal to Great Britain in extent and somewhat resembles a horseshoe in shape. The Gulf of Uambay forms its inner boundary and Surat is one of its most ancient ports in that part of the coast ; how ancient, it is impossible to decide, for on that point the historians are not in accord. The local histories, however, are agreed in fixing the establishment of Surat as a modern city in the last year of the fifteenth century, and in 1514 the Portuguese traveller Bar- bosa describes it as '* a city of very great trade in all classes of merchandize, a very important seaport, yielding a large revenue to the King, and frequented by many ships from Malabar and all parts." The countrymen of Barbosa were, however, for many years the greatest enemies to the growth of the prosperity of the town. Two years before his visit they had burnt it, and subsequently in 1530 and 1531 they again laid waste the city. In order to protect it from their frequent attacks the King of Ahmedabad commanded the present Castle to be built, and. in spite of the efforts of the Portuguese, who tried by force and bribery to prevent its construction, the fortress was finished about 1546.

In 1572 the fertile fields and park-like lands of Gujardt attracted the attention of the great Akbar, and he appeared with overwhelming forces and received the submission of the pro- vince. For nearly two centuries after this, Gujarat continued to be one of the provinces subject to the house of Tamerlane, and Surat was ruled by Governors appointed by the Emperors of Delhi. Akbar, always willing to encourage foreign enterprise, concluded a treaty with the Portuguese, which made them virtual masters of the Surat seas. The example set by Portugal was not lost upon the other nations of Europe. The Dutch began to turn their attention to the Eastern trade, and rapidly to supplant the merchants of Lisbon. The great Elizabethan mariners took up the tale, and the first Charter of the " Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading with the East Indies," which, after various renewals, amalgamations, and changes of title, retained through all its vicissitudes a traditional identity, was granted on December 31st, 1600.

In 1608, or just about a century after the arrival of the Portuguese, Captain Hawkins of the good ship Hector brought to anchor the first English vessel in Gujardt waters. He tells us that he was kindly received by the natives " after their own barbarous manner," but wa9 much harassed by the Portuguese. At this time Surat is described as of considerable size, " with many good houses belonging to merchants," and " a pleasant Green having a Maypole in the middle, on which at high festivals were hung lights and other decorations." The city*

b 1255—1 int

11 INTRODUCTION.

was very populous and full of merchants. The people were " tall, neat, and well clothed in garments of white calico and silk, and very grave and judicious in their behaviour." The coast in the neighbourhood witnessed many hard-contested struggles with the Portuguese before they would permit the English to share in the lucrative trade of the city. The English in these contests proved that they could not only hold their own, but even defeat the hitherto irresisti- ble Portuguese. Their courage won so much respect that their rights of trade were at last formally recognised by the Viceroy of Gujarat, and in the year 1613 a Charter was granted by the Great Moghul, which confirmed the privileges granted to the English by his representative. In 1615 Sir Thomas Roe was sent by James I. as Ambassador to the Court of the Moghul Emperor, and three years later he succeeded in obtaining certain further privileges for his countrymen. He also made a separate treaty with the Emperor's third son, Prince Khurram, afterwards the famous Shah Jehan, to whom had been assigned by his father the Government of Surat. By this treaty the English gained the rights of building a house, bearing arms, exer- cising their own religion freely, and settling their own disputes among themselves. The modest house at Surat was the first permanent connexion of the English with India, and the rapid growth of the Surat Factory forms an important and interesting chapter in the history of our Indian Empire.

Twelve years after the English got permission to build a house, the President received the high-sounding title of Chief of the Honourable Company of English Merchants trading in the East. The title of President was given in 1616 to Thomas Kerridge the first Superintendent by his own subordinates, and he was succeeded by Thomas Rastell, whose signature is attached to the oldest document in the Record Office that has escaped the ravages of fire, neglect, and time. It is a letter dated " Surratt ye 30th September 1630," and is addressed to the factors at Agra. It is partly commercial and throws but little light on the history of the time. It informs the factors that instead of making Surat the last port of the fleet's " finall dispeed for England, we are determyned, for this yeare only, to alter that course by appointing Persia for their last porte, and to that end shall w^ all conveniencie possible indeavo *■ the p_Tsent lading of these our Indian investing p. vided and appointed for the accorl of the first voyage; and by that meanes will hope to give them their dispeed from hence by the 25^> or last November at the furthest, and w*t them also our letters and accompli for England; w * may serve for advertisemJ unto you, that you be nott backward in the like yo^selves, or behind in ought elce that might concerne that present expedition." (Vol. I. p. 3). The factors at Agra are also told that in England " there is little alteration since the last yeares ffleet, only that the treaty of peace w * Spaine was in agitation by reciprocall embasies from each King to other, w^ yet by their non-cessation of armes, the successe is somewhat to be doubted, and soe not remembering ought elce att p 'sent, wee commend you to Gods mercies and with friendly salutes rest, your very loving ffriends." (Vol. I. p. 5). The second letter is addressed to the factors at Gombroon, where a factory had been founded sixteen years previously. The President writes, " Your relation of the Persian warrs in defence against the Turke, and the others progresse therein, together wit the Portuigalls pettie p rparations in those p*5! was acceptable unto us. Advice by the way of Mocha since doth seeme to ascertayne that the Turke hath received a fatall overthrow. And of the Portugalls p rceedings in these ptft you have already heard our discourse, their supply out of Europe this yeare being onely a Car- rack and one Gallion, wch will very much disappointe the Vice Kinges designes, by the want of men, money, and useful pivisions, w<* intelligence tells us are things he greatly stands in

INTRODUCTION. iii

need of. That w?* wee here most dread are his stratagemes by fire in Swally, and his ffri- gatts intercepting of your boates in Gombroone ; the Ckauns assistance therefore soe freely promised unto yo^ would be further solicited to your aids as well by sea or land, namely by boats or ffriggatts of that countrye to be maned p.tely w^ihis and p.tely w^ some of or_ choicest shott, occasion soe requiring." (Vol. I. p. 9). In the next letter, dated the 25th October, we have a graphic, quaint description of an engagement with the Portuguese, who were doing their utmost at the time to use their influence with the Moghul to expel the English and Dutch from his dominions. After a sketch of the formation of the troops, we are informed, " But such was the undauntednes of our English, being stirred up to a high measure of furie by the hourly vexations and braveings of the enemy, as being now come w^in shot w*J? a generall resolution rejoyceing att the occasion, after a shot or two rec"l first from the Portuigalls pushed on in the verye face & mouth of all their ffriggats and p.ceaveing that but 3 of them could use the advantage of their prowes against them, and that some of the rest were brought aground, and had only their Harquibuses acrooke to gall them advanced forwards still plying their small shot w_\!} very good discipline, and the Portuigalls noe lesse valliently replying wlh their double forces, as well from their ffriggats at sea, as the squadrone on shore, but not able it seems to endure the obstinate rage of oi people they began to give grounds, and our most fiercely following, entered pellmell amongst them, even into the water, w^in lesse then pistoll shot of their ffriggats ; in w^ intrim the Vice Kings sonne was conveyed aboard but soe narrowly escaped that the party who p.vided for his safety was himselfe taken prisoner in the accon : many of the English not feareing to runn up to the chin in water, even to the very sides of their ffriggats pursueing the victory w^! great slaughter both at shoare and at sea, and at length returned w*Jl 27 Portuigalls prisoners taken alive, wlhout the losse of any more than one ancient man (a corporall), not wounded but suffo- cated only w1* heate and the wounding of 7 more of o l people. This they happily p.formed insight of Meirza Baker, and divers of these country people to their great admiration and or nations great..! honoJ, to that good God that led them by the hand be the glorye." (Vol. I. p. 1 1). To revenge this defeat the Portuguese Admiral made an effort to destroy the English ships, which proved disastrous to his own fleet. The President writes in the postscript to his letter, " At this very instant is come newes from yJL Commanders below that the last night (being Sunday againe) about 8 of the clock, the Portuigalls put in execution their maine stratagem soe much depended on by them, and not w^out cause much feared by us, in fireing of their 4 prepared vessells chained together for the intended destruction of our fleet, but the vigilancie of our people directed by the Divine Providence of that greate protector that hath allwayes hetherto bestowed innumerable blessings uppon us hath p r vented the end of that great mis- clieife intended. Oi boats well manned on head of the headmost ship haveing w1* their grap- nells ready for the purpose fastened on the boats so fired, and towing two of them (still burning) on the shoare, and the other two on the sands gave happie cause of great joye in oi people for soe happie diliverance, and shame enough to our malitious enemy that hath thus basely in that kinde endeavoured ruines." (Vol. I. p. 12). A traveller who visited Surat at this time conveys to us a favourable impression of Thomas Rastell. Delia Valle informs us that the President spoke Italian with fluency and was very polite, showing himself in all things a person sufficiently accomplished and of generous deportment, according as his gentle and graceful aspect bespoke him. The President invited him to the English Factory, but Delia Valle objected to take his bride, a young Marionette lady of extraordinary beauty, to a dwelling where there were only men. The Dutch

IV INTRODUCTION.

President, however, by stratagem and force secured the illustrious visitor. The English Presi- dent was sorely wrought at this, but an apology from the traveller appeased his anger, and he asked him to supper and treated him " very splendidly, & everything ended in jollity & friend- ship as at first."

Six years after this (1636) we find that a certain Methwold was President and that having repaired to Goa he there arranged a convention with the Viceroy on the basis of a treaty which had been concluded between England and Spain. During the tenure of office of Methwold, Surat was visited by John Albert de Mandelslo, who writes : " The places about this city are the most delightful of any in the world. For, besides the fair gardens, where they have all sorts of fruit trees, all the Champion seems to want nothing that might recreate the eye." Mandelslo gives us an account of the life at the Factory which was not devoid of pleasure. He writes : " At the entrance of the house I met the President, with his Second, that is to say, he who commands under him, and in his absence, whose name was Mr. Fremling, who received me with extraordinary kindness, and very civilly answer'd the complement I made them, upon the freedom I took to make my advantage thereof. The President, who spoke Dutch very well, told me I was very welcome ; that in the country where we then were, all Christians were oblig'd to assist one another, and that he was the more particularly oblig'd thereto as to what concern'd me, in respect of the affection I would have express'd towards some of his nation at Ispahan. He thereupon brought me to his chamber, where there was a collation ready. It consisted of fruits and preserves, according to the custom of the country. As soon as we were set, he asked me what my design was, and understanding that I intended to return for Germany within twelve months, he told me I was come too late to get away that year, by reason no more ships would come that way, but that if I would stay with him five or six months, till there were a convenience of passage, he would take it kindly : that during that time he would contribute all he could to my divertisement : that he would find out a means how I might see the most eminent places in the country ; nay, that he would send some of his own nation along with me, who should find me those accommodations I could not otherwise hope for. This obliging discourse soon prevail'd with me to accept of these proffers, so that he shew'd me all the house, that I might make choice of a convenient lodging, which I took near his Second's chamber. In the evening, some merchants and others, belonging to the President, came and brought me from my chamber to supper into a great hall, where was the Minister with about dozen merchants, who kept me company, but the President and his Second supp'd not, as being accustom'd to that manner of life, out of a fear of overcharging their stomachs, digestion being slowly performed, by reason of the great heats which are as troublesome there in the night time as in the day. After supper the Minister carried me into a great open gallery, where I found the President and his Second taking the coolness of the sea-air. This was the place of our ordinary rendezvous, where we met every night ; to wit, the President, his Second, the principal merchant, the Minister and myself ; but the other merchants came not but when they were invited by the President. At dinner he kept a greate table of about fifteen or sixteen dishes of meat, besides the desert. The respect and deference which the other merchants have for the President was very remarkable, as also the order which was there observed in all things, especially at Divine Service, which was said twice a day, in the morning at six and at eight at night, and on Sundayes thrice. No person in the house but had his particular function, and their certain hours assign'd them as well for work as recreation. Our

INTRODUCTION.

divertisement was thus ordered. On Fridayes after prayers, there was a particular assembly, at which met with us three other merchant*; who were of kin to the President, and h;ul li-ft as well as he their wives in England, which day being that of their departure from England, they had appointed it for to make a commemoration thereof, and drink their wives' healths. »So/ne made their advantage of this meeting to get more than they could well carry away, tho! every man was at liberty to drink what he [ileas'd, and to mix the sack as he thought fit, or to drink Palepuntz, which is a kind of drink consisting of Aqua vitae, rose-water, juice of citrons and sugar. At our ordinary meetings every day, we took only Th4, which is commonly used all over the Indies, not only among those of the country, but also among the Dutch and English, who take it as a Drug that cleanses the stomach, and digests the superfluous humours, by a temper- ate heat particular thereto." Mandelslo states " that the English President, Mr. Methwold, who had rcsign'd his charge in the Indies to his successour, Mr. Fremling, having taken all requisite order for our voyage, went the first day of January, 1639, to take his leave of the Sulthan, who receiv'd him very kindly, and presented him with a vestment of Brocadoe, the collar where- of was made of two Martins skins with sables, which he then had about him ; as also many other rare things, which he entreated him to keep for his sake. At our coming out of the Sulthans Palace, we were received into a Shallop, which brought us aboard the " Mary," then lying in the road, two leagues from the mouth of the river. The new President, and the chiefest of the English Officers, accompanied us into the ship, where they stayed three dayes entertaining and treating one another, and drowning in good wine the affliction which was to ensue upon so long a separation."

Fremling was succeeded by Francis Breton. The inscription on his monument at Surat states that after he had " for five years discharged his duties with the greatest deligence and strictest integrity he went unmarried to the celestial nuptials on the 21s! of July in the year of Christ 1649." When Breton was President, John Baptista Tavernier, Baron of Antone, paid a visit. to Surat, and judging from his account the town at that time could not have been in a very flourish- ing condition. " Suratt, " he writes, " is a city of an indifferent bigness, defended by a pittiful fortress, by the foot whereof you must pass, whither you go by land or by water. It has four towers at the four corners, and in regard there are no platforms upon the walls, guns are planted upon wooden scaffolds. The Governor of the fort only commands the souldk-rs in the fort, but has no power in the city, which has a particular Governour to receive the Kings customs and other revenues, through the extent of his province. The walls of the town are only of earth, and the generality of the houses like barns, being built of reeds, plaistered with cow-dung, to cover the void spaces, and to hinder them without from discerning between the reeds what is done within. In all Suratt there be but nine or ten houses which are well built : whereof the Cha- bander, or chief of the merchants has two or three. The rest belong to the Mahumetan merchants ; nor are those, wherein the English and Hollanders dwell, less beautiful ; every President, and every Commander, being careful to repair them ; which they put upon the account of their Companies. However, they do but hire those houses ; the King not suffering any Frank to have an house of his own, for fear he should make a fortress of it. The Capuchin Friars have built them a very convenient convent, according to the model of our European houses, and a fair Church for the building of which, I furnish'd them with good part of the money. But the purchase was made in the name of a Maronite merchant of Aleppo, whose name was Chelebi, of whom I have spoken in my Persian relations." b 1255—2 int+-

Vi INTRODUCTION.

In 1651 Captain Jeremy Blackman was appointed President at Surat. Former Presidents had been allowed to indulge in private trade, but this was now held to be inconsistent with a proper discharge of their duties, and as a compensation Captain Blackman was given a salary of £500 per annum, for five years, to commence from the day of his leaving England, and to con- tinue till his return. In 1653 tidings reached Surat of the war between the English and the Dutch in Europe, and the Dutch factory formally declared war against England. The English factors sent an Agent to Delhi to claim the protection of the Moghul, but he refused to interfere in the quarrels or war between Europeans trading in his dominions. The war with the Dutch was brought to a close the next year by the treaty of Westminster. During the time of the Protectorate Eemington and Nathaniel Wyche presided over the factory. The latter was succeeded by Andrewes. The first Consultation of Government which we have recorded was held on Swally Marine, 17th January 1660, and is subscribed Matthewe Andrewes. There are also several Commissions given to Commanders of ships signed by him. On the 9th February 1660 a Consultation was held in Surat to take into consideration the conduct of Mathewe Gray who " did on the second day of this present month willfully absent himself from the Comp3? service by departing from Swally Marine to Suratt, on a suspition to be sent second of the ft'actorye of Persia, and hath ever since behaved himself proudly and scornefully towards us the saidPresid * andCouncell, wee therefore for the reasons afors i have discarded him from the place of Secretary, and if he continue ref ractorye, wee shall also the Comp *f service." (Vol. I. p. 185). Two days after this another Consultation was held and the President and Council " did therefore call Ml. Gray before them, and aske him whither he did acknowledg himself the Comp ^L serv JL, and to be disposed of by them in their service, whose answeare was he was ; then uppon consideration that none in the ffactorye was soe fitt to be second of Persia as himselfe, or to succeed in the Agency the second question was putt whithi he would serve the Comp 5_ in Persia or noe, he knowing the necessitye, his answeare was I will not goe ; therefore wee knowing y± example is more apt to encouradge the same practice in others, did conclude and acquaint him that if he would not goe to Persia, where hee knewe his aid and assistance was required, he must not only leave the Companyes service, but their house, that he might not give encouradgment to others soe to act, and consequently every person that was not well pleased with his employment, or that his employment did not correspond with his de- signes, to answeare I will not accept of it, this being the opinion of y • P± and Councell and of the whole familye, that for his disobedience he was to be sent home, and soe this meeting was dissolv- ed." (Vol. I. p. 185). Life at the factories did not always run smooth. Grievous complaints are made by the factors of the intolerable injuries sustained by them from time to time from the Governors of the town. Discontent was also rife among themselves, for in the proceedings of a Consultation in Surat yJL 31. October 1661 we read " the murmerring & uncoward behaviour of some discon- tented spirritts, occationed by their hopes of a new President coming out, was some monthes past too obvious not to be taken notice of ; the President therefore desirous to remove all doubts, that wee might live lovingly, & heartily act our Masters business, assembled all the Comp^f. servants in this Presidency, & did read unto them the Hon^Le Comp5f confirmation of him in their most eminent employing of President, requiring all subordinate ffactors to be conformable to such orders as shall from time to time be commaunded them by their said President and

Councell, , . . Having fully imparted the Hon^l Compii commaund, wee demaunded of

each man particularly, if hee was willing to submitt to the commaunds of the Pz etc^ Councell as the Hon'il? Compa_ had required, Their answere was generall & to content. The F-£ then

INTRODUCTION.

VU

proposed to them y* if any man could object again him, why his commaunds as P.£. ah not be observed & obeyed, that bee ahottld declare his mind. There vat no objection made. Wee (hen exhorting them to love & amity dismissed them: & wii1 Mi Lambton proceeded to Councell, where two tilings were concluded on." (Vol. I. p. 69.)

The Factors had much to endure in the early days. In 1662 they state that " our last years imprisonment and restraynt from food, the attempt of our deaths with many oilier sordid abuses, cryes vengeance on these infidells. And because our complaynts at home for justice cannot !>e heard, therefore are wee y° scorne of those people & oi. privelledges and honour trampled under by force in y± absence of o.£ shipping." A more prosperous time, however, ensued when Matthew Andrewe was succeeded by the brave and energetic Sir George Oxinden, who deserves to rank with Clive and Hastings as one of the illustrious founders of the Indian Empire. His defence of Surat was as gallant an affair as Olive's defence of Arcot. Now for the first time is given an account of the defence of the factory in his own modest manly words. He informs the Company in London that "on yl 6!i January 1664" was brought a hott allarum yj? Sevagy y • grand rebell of yl Deccan was within 10 or 15 miles of y 1 towne. The President sent for forty men from the ships to aid him in the defence, with (Vol. I. p. 24) " w°n> wee your Ffact Tl servants joined and having drawne yP out in ranke and file with drum and trumpett yol Presidi in the head march*- through y_! body of y i towne to y± Greene before yl Castle where y± Governour was ready to pop in upon the first notice of their approach. Wee past close by him and so marcht on taking a great circle round that yJL ennemy was at the gates before wee could reach our house." (Vol. I. p. 24). A Mr. Anthony Smith comingfrom Swalley was taken prisoner and came to Shivaji, who took 300 rupi. " ransome of him, and sent him yl. next day to menace us, but before that we had reci many threats. But wee still bidd him keepe his people out of yl. reach of oJL gunns, elce wee would shoote them. Hee returned answere wee were frif, wee replied if soe, why did hee detaine an English man, take a horse out of our stable and make fences of your goods yl lay before yJL coustume house ; and also suffered them to bee plundered ; all these things spoake him an ennemy, & therefore yl Presidi returned answere wee would not trust him or admitt of any further treaty and therefore hee should send us noe more messages, and if hee did wee would kill yJL messenger." (Vol. I. p. 25). Shivaji also sent messengers to demand homage "and yl. if we refused it hee would raise our house to ye ground, and not spare a lie." " Wee replyed wee were here, on purpose to maintaine your house to y* death of y* last man & therefore not to delay his coming upon us ; by yl time he had broken Hodjy Saed Beagues house open, and had one nightes entire plunder out of it, wcl1 being so very neare us, as one wall to part both houses, wee feared they would strengthen y*. place & afterward annoy us, and by their multi- tudes force their way or undermine and blow us up and y.* seeing they did begin with their horse and foote to surround us, some then standing under our eaves for noe good, wee caused a p*£. of foote to sally forth yj; house and fight them ; in w^L scufell we had 3 men slightly wounded, ours sleu a horse and man, some say two or three, but wee routed them. Yl good success animated us yet further to clear our quarters of y™, and hearing they had taken their randevous in a Muskett or Moore Church joining close to our house, and also in Hodgy Saeds house warehouses, having out of feare of us not done him y_I quarter of y± mischiefe they intended him. Whilst our men were clearing yl. Muskett they in y« houses and warehouses opened yJL doores and fled, soe wee shutt up y e. doores and barraeadoed them, and made a passage from our into his house, and kept a garrison in a belcony that cleared all yl streat

y[[[ INTRODUCTION.

and garded yl other house of yl Hodgies. When yl_ rebell had heard what was past of yl killing & routing his guards hee falls a threatning M_L Smith, some time with y±. loss of his head and some times to cutt of his hand, & at last causes him to write a noate to y± Presid * that if wee persisted in fighting against him hee would race our house to yJL ground and bee our destruction. By yl time wee had more assistance from jt, ships, wherfore yl Presidl wrote Ml Smith, wee would prosecute wJL wee had begun, and not at all moved at his threate requiring him to save the labour of his serv *i running to & fro on messages, and come himself with allhis army." (Vol.I.p.25). The approachof theMoghul army caused Shi vaji to return from the town which he had plundered and laid waste. " He hath carried away in gold, silver and pearle, precious stones and other rich goods to the vallue of many hundred thousand pounds, and burnt of other goods and houses to yl. amoi of as much more, so y4 y t towne is utterly ruin'd and very little left either of riches or habitation. Yl_ rogue was very cruell ; Mil Smith in yl time of his imprisonment was present when hee cutt of more y£ 26 hands in one day and many heads ; who ever hee was yl was taken & brought before him yl_ could not redeeme himself lost either his hand or his head, and his manner was first to plunder & then to cause yl_ ownl of his house to give him some thing over and above to redeeme his house from being burnt, and yet yl. p.fidious villaine would fire it afterwards, although hee had obliged himself to yl contrary. Wee are now endeavouring to emprove this skirmage of ours to yol profitt, by acclamations of jl townes people, as well they yl. are sufferers as those whose houses were preserv'd, who laying aside their owne losses cry out in thousands for a reward from yl. King to yJL English yl_ had by their courage preserved them, when those to whom they were intrusted as the Governor et™ dared not shew his head." (Vol. I. p. 25-26). On the arrival of the Moghul army Sir George Oxinden received from the Commander " great thanks for yl. good service we did y •. king and the country ; whereupon your President having a pistoll in his hand layed it before yl_ Chiefe, saying yl hee did now lay downe his armes, leaving yl future care and pro- tection of yl- citty to them, which was exceedingly well taken ; telling yl President hee did accept it and in reward of yJL good service hee must give him a vest, a horse, & girt a sword about him ; but you I. Presidl. told him these were things becoming a souldier, but we were merchants, and expected favour from yJL King in our trade." (Vol. I. p. 26).

After having described the siege Sir George Oxinden discusses the internal economy of the factory. Gerard Aungier is their " humble supplyant" that they would please to consi- der him " in his sallery, as his quallity doth merrit, and yl place wherein hee officiates as ware-house keeper, that hee may receive yl same incourageml. from you as you have thought good to allow others yl have serv'd you in his quality, and hee promised none shall exceed him in duty and ffaythfull service." (Vol. I. p. 28). The case of Mr. Sam Salsbery was certainly deserving of consideration, for " hee had not recA any sallery for these 2 yeares that he had continued in yl imploiment." The President also informs the Company that they had " seperated a place apart for Gods worsIL & decently adorned it, wherein stands yo_L Library, & amongst them those severall volumes of yl holy bible in yi. Languages wsl is much esteemed by those yl are learned amongst these people; yl if any eminent p. son come to your houses his greatest desire is to see the Chappell ; wherfore wee entreate you for further ornament, to send us out a large table in a frame, gilded and handsomely adorned with Moses and Aaron holding the two tables containing the ten Commandements, the Lords Prayer & the Creed, written in letters of gould, & in yl midst at yJL topp in triangles, Gods name writt in as many of these

INTRODUCTION. IX

easterns Languages as Arabick Persian <kc£L as can be procured; which if you please to honnor our Chappell with, it will bee a glory to our religion, as y*. w^L is more taken than anything that they shall read beside, and yet our meaning is y_* yl Coiiiniaixli-iiinits fag bt wrot in y.1 Eng8, language." (Vol. I. p. 31). At the close of the letter we have the earliest list of the Factors at Surat. The name of one unfortunate has been sent down to posterity with a stigma attached to it. The entry runs, " Val. Hurse, drinking sott."

The next letter dated Suratt yl 201*1 February 1663-64 is addressed to Ffort George and contains a briefer account of the attack made by Shivaji on the city. Sir George Oxinden in- forms the factors at Madras that " although wee have but little Europe neuse y.* is come to our eares since yl ships left England, yet wee are very willing to impart it to you. It is this : our letters at yl 30^L NovJL were arriv'd in England in May. The King was very much troubled at the actions of y_l Viceroy of Goa, and was resolved to have full satisfaction from y e Crownc of Portugall. The Consull of Alleppo adviseth yjt by letters from London of y_l 12*Jl June, all things were in a peaceable condition in Church & State & a right understanding and good correspondence between his Maj^ and his two houses of Parliament. That a Dutch ship was run away w*t a cargo of Turkey goods, and yl Consults at Smirna, Alleppo, etc., secur'd untill they rendered satisfaction in 100000. This is w± at pres *. wee have notice of; w 5 wee receive our overland advices wee shall imp A. w 1 further neuse as conveighance shall offer for yl party, untill yl wee take leave and remaine." (Vol. I. p. 35). However we are further in- formed in a postscript that before the letter was dispatched a Dutch ship arrived from Persia " w^t brought us advices from oL. Hon™! Employ £i dated the 10^. August." The Consull from Alleppo writes of a "grA victory obtained by yJL Portugalls ag?i the Spanyard, occasioned chiefly by 5000 Eng. vizA 3000 foote & 2000 horse then in yl Portugalls army w ° by relation fougA desperately, not giving nor taking quarter. The Spanyard is said to have lost (of 15000 his army consisted) 12000, amongst w?E very many Donl and persons of great quallity. Don Joathe GenJ1 is said also to have bee' shott in yl head w* two bulletts & could not bee found, all yl baggage and ordinance taken. They write further y_l the Lord Geo. Digby had charg'd y *. Lord high ChancellA Hide w.%. 15 articles of high treason and presented y ™ to yl. house of Lords, yiL yl Judges have give' their opinion yA yl. pAiculars in yl. charge antoi not to high treason but to high misdemeanor !. The Parliament is adjourned untill March next, also yl. further consideration of y.f. charge referred untill yl Parliaments next meeting." (Vol. I. p. 36.)

The next letter is written to the Comp'iny vid Aleppo and is dated Swally Marine yl 4th Aprill 1664, and was an answer to the despatches received by the Dutch ship. The President regrets that he cannot procure the "400 tuns of Quilean Pepper, & 300 bales of Cassia Lignum, neither of which wee shall be able to furnish you with, yl. Dutch having (as formerly wee advis'd you) engrossed and appropriated to themselves yl. whole Mallabarr Coast, from North to South, prohibiting both these commodities to all, enjoyning y!_ Natives of yl Countrey by threats and menaces not to sell to any but themselves." (Vol. I. p. 37). Three years later (1667) a firman was granted by Aurangzeb to the Hon^ Company by which the custom duties were considerably reduced.

By the eleventh article of the treaty of marriage between King Charles II and the Infanta Catherine of Portugal, dated 23rd June 1661, the Crown of Portugal ceded and granted to the Crown of England the Island and harbour of Bombay in full sovereignty. The article ran as follows : — " That for the better improvement of the English interest and commerce in the East Indies and that the King of Great Britain may be better enabled to assist, defend, and

b 1255—3 int

X INTRODUCTION.

protect the subjects of the King of Portugal in those parts from the power and invasion of the States of the United Provinces, the King of Portugal, with the assent and advice of his Council, gives, transfers, and by these presents grants and confirms to the King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors for ever, the Port and Island of Bombay in the East Indies, with all the rights, profits, territories, and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging ; and together with the income and revenue, the direct, full and absolute dominion and sovereignty of the said port, island, and premises, with all their royalties, freely, fully, entirely and absolutely. He also covenants and grants that the quiet and peaceable possession of the same shall with all covenient speed be freely and effectually delivered to the King of Great Britain or to the persons thereto appointed by the said King of Great Britain for his use. In pursuance of this cession, the inhabitants of the said island (as subjects of the King of Great Britain, and under his sovereignty, crown, jurisdiction, and government) being permitted to remain there and to enjoy the free exercise of the Roman Catholic religion in the same manner as they do at present, it being always understood, as it is now declared once for all, that the same regula- tions shall be observed for the exercise and preservation of the Roman Catholic religion in Tangier and all other places which shall be ceded and delivered by the King of Portugal into the possession of the King of Great Britain, as were stipulated and agreed to on the surrender of Dunkirk into the hands of the English : and when the King of Great Britain shall send his fleet to take possession of the said Port and Island of Bombay, the English shall have instruc- tions to treat the subjects of the King of Portugal throughout the East Indies in the most friendly manner, to help and assist them, and to protect them in their trade and navigation there." From this article it will be seen that Bombay was not given merely as part of a dower, but granted to the English Crown to enable the two nations to guard their respective domi- nions and interests against the aggressions and encroachments of the Dutch. By the secret article of the treaty (App. A.) the King of England bound himself to " exert his whole strength and power in order to establish a solid and lasting peace between the most serene King of Portugal and the States General of the United Netherlands," and if the States General refused to make peace Charles bound himself "to defend and protect the possessions of the Portugese in the East Indies," and to obtain restitution to the Crown of Portugal of such Portuguese settlements in the East Indies as the Dutch might, subsequent to the treaty, obtain possession of. To gain possession of Bombay Charles II. in March 1661 despatched a fleet of five men-of-war, under the command of James Ley, third Earl of Marlborough, an eminent mathematician and navigator. On board the fleet were five hundred troops com- manded by Sir Abraham Shipman, who was appointed to be General on shore, and a Viceroy of the King of Portugal authorised to deliver the ceded island and its dependencies to the King of England accompanied Marlborough. On the 18th September 1662 the King's fleet arrived at Bombay and Marlborough demanded the cession of the island and its dependencies. The Eng- lish Admiral considered that the Islands of Thana and Salsette were included in the dependencies of Bombay, but the Portuguese Viceroy interpreted the treaty to signify the cession of only Bom- bay and on this ground the Portuguese Governor of Bombay evaded giving effect to the treaty. The Earl of Marlborough then demanded the cession of Bombay itself, which was admitted to be within the terms of the treaty, but the Portuguese Governor refused on the pretext that Sir Abraham Shipman, the Commander of the troops, had not arrived. A month later Sir Andrew Shipman reached Bombay, and, having produced his full powers, requested the Governor to yield the Island. The latter then raised the technical objection that the form of the Letters, or

INTRODUCTION. x'l

Patent, of the King, did not coincide with the usages observed in Lishon. II'- !i<>\w\<r offered to retain the island for the King of England till he should receive authority ErOBJ Portugal. The Admiral and the Commander now asked the permission of .Sir George Orindeo to land the troops at Surat, but he refused, owing to the fear that such a step would give offense to the Moghul Emperor. The Earl of Marlborough then determined to return to England for further orders and to leave the troops at the Mauritius. He was however unfortunately compelled to land them at the small island of Angidiwa, twelve leagues to the south of Qob.

Charles II. on hearing that the Portuguese Governor had refused to cede the Island ordered a Memorial to be presented to the Portuguese Ambassador, in which he requested that the Court of Portugal should refund the £100,000 for the expenses of the late expedition and should send orders to the Viceroy of Goa to immediately cede the island of Bombay and its dependencies the islands of Salsette and Thana to the King's forces which had been left behind. The Portuguese Court replied that by the treaty the island of Bombay was intended to be ceded but not its dependencies. The English however contended that the island of Bombay alone was a worthless gift and not of sufficient maritime importance to carry out the main object of the treaty the protection of the Portuguese possessions from the attacks of the Dutch. But while these negotiations were being conducted, the majority of the troops who were cooped up in the island of Angidiwa near Goa perished from sickness and want of food. This induced Sir Abraham Shipman to offer to cede the right to Bombay to the Company, if the Viceroy of Goa would consent to the arrangement. Sir George Oxinden and the Council at Surat however after mature delibe- ration declined the offer. Sir Abraham Shipman himself now fell a victim to the unhealthiness of the island and his Secretary Mr. Cooke, to preserve his own life and the lives of the few troops left, was compelled to accede to a treaty drawn up by the Viceroy of Goa.

By this treaty (Appendix D.) it was agreed that the island of Bombay only should be deli- vered to the English gentlemen, and that the Portuguese or others might freely come, sell, buy and trade at their islands and countries through the port of Bombay and be free of all payments. That the English should not " compell the inhabitants of the said island of Bomhay neither directly nor indirectly to change their Faith or to go and attend their Sermons." " That the fleets and boats of Bombay and Portugal were to have free egress or regress without ask- ing leave, because part of the Bay belongs to them in respect of their other islands and coun- tries. That no inhabitants shall lose their rights either patrimonial or what is held from the Crown unless they forfeit according to the laws of Portugal." Charles II. on hearing of the treaty made by Mr. Cooke wrote to the Viceroy of Goa on the 10th March 1676-77, that it was his intention shortly to elucidate and explain the eleventh article of the marriage treaty conjointly with his brother the most serene Prince of Portugal "by whose justice we doubt not our sovereign rights in the Port and Island of Bombay and their Dependencies will be vindicated from that very unjust capitulation which Humphrey Cook was forced to submit to at the time when that place was first transferred to our possession, which capitulation neither he, Humphrey, v empowered to come into, nor any one else to impose upon him, in contravention to a compact framed in so solemn and religious a manner. We therefore are determined to protest against the said capitulation as prejudicial to our Royal dignity, and derogatory to our right, which we hold in the higher estimation for coming to us in part of the dowry with our aforesaid dearest Consort." The King further informed the Viceroy that he had forbidden his subjects of the Ka-t India Company " to suhmit to such arbitrary and unjustifiable exactions as paying the tribute

Xll INTRODUCTION.

at Tannah and Carinjah, which are not less inconsistent with our Royal sovereign right, than contrary to the laws and customs of all nations. For not even in the streight called the Sound on the coast of Denmark is any tax or toll imposed in an arbitrary manner, a moderate sum only being paid for lighthouses and beacons erected for the security of navigation ; nor was this even levied before treaties and stipulations had been made between Princes for that pur- pose ; while our subjects are willing and ready to pay the customary port duties and charges respectively settled in different places, which they refuse not to do when they trade in any part of the Portuguese dominions, we do not see with what right anything further can be demanded of them."

The King now appointed Sir Gervase Lucas to be Governor of Bombay. The new Gover- nor after careful perusal of the documents which had been sent home told his Royal Master that it would be necessary for him to take out four hundred men and provision and stores of every kind to supply the garrison for eighteen months. He also pointed out that the cost of the garrison would be upwards of seven thousand pounds, and that £2 per day was hardly sufficient salary for a Governor on such a distant station. The report of Sir Gervase Lucas was referred by His Majesty to the Secretaries of State, who replied that it would " be improper to incur any great expense upon Bombay." They considered that a reinforcement of sixty men under the command of a Lieutenant would be sufficient troops to send. Sir Gervase Lucas embarked on board the Company's ship "Returne" and reached Bombay 5th November, 1666. On assuming charge of the Government he immediately proceeded to institute enquiries into the conduct of his predecessor. He discovered that Cooke had extorted a large sum of money from the inhabitants and had behaved in a fraudulent manner with regard to the estate of his old Chief, Sir Andrew Shipman. Sir Gervase Lucas commanded that Cooke should not be permit- ted to leave the Island till he had returned the money dishonestly obtained. Sir Gervase Lucas brought out a letter of credit for £1500 which he caused to be presented at Surat, and requested " that the money should be accompanied to Bombaim by some trustie persons appointed by us, declaring the risque to be ours untill yi. money be safely delivered him. To which wee demured for yl. following reasons. Ffirst, by reason &i an error in yl- calculation of the Dollors, w^ hee computeth thus, the Sevill to bee worth 215 rupees p. 100, the Mexico 213 ; when by the stan- dard of this place the Sevill be of valew but 214 and the Mexico 211 rupees per 100 Dollors. Secondly, our inabilitie to procure so many dollors in specie, none being permitted to pass yl Mint without coinage into the currant money of the country rupees. Lastly, our running the adventure of the money to Bombaim, for w^ wee have no order from the Company, and in case of miscarriage the loss may fall upon our owne heads. Wherefore wee made our addresses by letter of yl 16*!l of said month, desiring Sl_ Gervase to take the aforesaid reasons under con- sideration, and in respect to the want of dollors to accept of rupees or chequeens, and in case he shall still impose the adventure on us, y*_ the moneys may be drawne from us at severall times, yL. if a loss happen it may be the less considerable. To w£^ wee having now by this letter of the 24* of the past month received his possitive answere to furnish him with the aforesi summ upon our adventure without further dispute by changing y*; specie, or by ex- changes as wee should best contrive, wee conclude it requisite to prevent misunderstandings between us, and such ill consequences as may from thence arrise of prejudice to the Companyes affaires, to ensure said money unto him on the Comp^3 accompt, and to procure what exchanges wee can to Bassein at yf_ easiest loss," (Vol, I. p. 210).

* • •

INTRODUCTION. Xl\l

A dispute arose between Sir Gervase. Lucas and Sir George Oxinden as to the issuing of passes for vessels. The former insisted that all passes should be issued by bin in the King's name which the latter considered to be an infringement of the Company's light Sir Gervaae Lucas seems to have shown a considerable want of tact and discretion in the matter, for in a Con* sultation in Surat yL 31st July 1668 we read — " Our passes were indeed sommond by him the last yeare, when wee let him know (what before bee well understood) how prejudicial] it would be to the Compaa affaires here, yet wee would be so observant as not to contradict EDi Majesties orders, and declared then to relinquish our right to them if hee had His Majesties Commission for it, but untill hee had such, wee entreated him to forbeare troubling us. But hee to shew his ownc grandeur, and to lessen our esteeme with these people, not only renewes his demands of the passes from us but (unknowne to us) hath wrote letters in Persian to the Governour, Shawbundr and all the merchants in the towne who are owners of Jounks, commanding them to fetch their passes from him, in whome the supreme power resides ; that His Maj*ii intended to make the Port of Bombaym the flourishingst port in India, and that hee is setting out an Armada to secure the coasts from pirat's. These his letters have put the towne in an uproare, and raised such jealousies in the Kings Ministers, that wee have been often sent for by ye_ Governor and upbraided, that wee who had received such signall favours and immunities from the King, and enjoyed a peaceable and flourishing trade in this his port and other his dominions so many yeares, were now destroying this port to set up one of our owne. Telling us how ill the King would resent this business, wondering very much yl hee should set out an Armada to scoure their seas, who never desired any such kindness from him. Nor would the Governour believe, but hee was revolted and set up for himselfe ; and those his Armada were pirat's intended to robb the Jounks of the Kings port. But the President did assure him hee had no such intentions, nor could such a thing be. To w°J| the Governour hastily retorted what (saith hee) cannot bee ? Did you never heare of a sonne who put his ffather in prizon ? Hee was very inquisitive after the seituation of the island, its bigness ; what townes and howses ; how inhabited, but more especially after the fortifications : being tould by the man who brought the letters that they had built a castle, w5j? wee would not understand, but palliated the business what might be. And after y*_ the President had urgently prest him to* let the merchants fetch their passes from thence, telling him that hee being the Kings Minister, it woidd be rather safer for them then if they reel them of us. Hee dismist us for yL time, telling us the business was of no small consequence, and would highly incense the King. And not being satisfied with our evading his discourse about their building fortifications, hee sent the Pattamarr that brought his letters w\h his Broker home to our howse to justifie it." (Vol. I. p. 215-216.)

A month after this Consultation the ship Constantinople arrived at Surat bringing a copy of a royal charter according to which his Majesty agreed to transfer the .Island of Bombay to the East India Company. It was to be held by the Company of the King " in free and common Soccage as of the Manore of East Greenwich, on payment of the annual rent of 10£ in gold, on the 30*J- September in each year." To the Company were con- veyed all the stores, arms, and ammunition which were upon the island, and Sir George Oxinden was directed to engage any of the Kings troops who might be disposed to enter into the service of the Company. The President and Council at Surat determined to assume at once the Government of Bombay and sent three of their number to assume charge of the island. The next year Sir George Oxinden himself visited Bombay, and during a short stay frame J a set of regulations for its administration. The Court of Directors, in order to consolidate the manage- b 1255—4 int

XIV INTRODUCTION.

ment of their factories and trade, now vested the government in a President and Council of eight, five of whom were constantly to reside at Surat.

On the 14th July, 1669, Sir George Oxinden died in harness at Surat. In the inscription on the monument at Surat which is designed to commemorate him and his brother Christopher he is styled "a great man," and few men have a better right to the title. The Council provi- sionally appointed Sir Gerald Aungier to be his successor, an appointment in which he was subsequently confirmed by the Home Authorities. In a letter dated Swally Marine, 10th January, 1671, we find — "Your PresidL had determined with some Councell to take his passage on those ships for your Island Bombay having many matters of no meane importance to act there ; but as circumstances now stand with this new feirce Govr_ who hath already begun to trouble our neighbours & p.ticularly the Ffrench, whom he threatens to turne out of the towne, we doe not judge it prudence to offer him occasion of offence by leaving the towne so imediately on his arrivall, but rather to stay till matters are little more quiet, intending God willing to goe downe by the ' Advance', by w^ time we trust yoL. concerns here will be best in a fair posture in order to yor_ next years invest1^. However, we have now sent a good supply downe to Bombay of goods and treasure for the defraying yor_ great charge there at present." (Vol. I. p. 46.)

For two years Gerald Aungier was prevented from visiting Bombay, and taking this fact into consideration the Governor and Council offered to the Company their humble advice " that it seems now consistent with your interest to settle your Cheife GovermL on your Island Bombay & to that end you would please to order yor. PresidL to reside there constantly, except extra- o rdinary emergencys may require his repair to Surat or elsewhere ; & this wee presume yo"T may doe without any discomposure to yor. affairs at Surat w^. will be well supplyed by Mi Mathew Gray & your present Councell." (Vol. I. p. 50.) By the same ship Gerald A.ungieralso sent home propo- sals touching the Island of Bombay. The inutility of legislation against usury was not in his time an economic maxim and the Governor "for the encouragement of trade" proposed "that Interest be settled and reduced to 9 p. c^. and that all manner of extortion be prohibited on severe penalty." He also desired that encouragement be given for artificers and handicraftsmen of all sorts to come out andlive on the island with their families. "The handicraftsmen wfj!1 are cheifly wanting are Husbandmen & Gardners, who understand planting and improving of grounds, the ground of Bom- bay being apt to receive and bring forth any seed or plant whatsoever when the times & seasons of planting are sufficiently understood ; weavers both of silke & cotton &5?, who in short time may procure to themselves a very comfortable livelyhood, Carpenters for building of houses as well as ships who are much wanted & much esteemed, Smiths, who also are much wanted, Gun Smiths & Locksmiths, Armorers, Bakers, Cooks, Shoemakers, Tatars, Diers,Barbors, Button makers, Ribbond weavers, Butchers, Haberdashers of small ware &££." (Vol. I. p. 53). Gerald Aungier also desired that the Courts would also send out "some Ffishmongers with their ffamilys with rules for erecting a company of Ffishmongers that better order may be observed thereon." The Governor had evi- dently a belief in sumptuary laws, for he proposed — " That for the encouraging good husbandry, by preventing the vaine and imoderate excess of apparrell, as also for yL. greater consumption of our owne native manufactures, a standing law be established by y?. Hon™! Comp»_ that no appa- rell or outward garments, to witt, Tunicks, Vest, Doublet, Breeches, be used or worne by any Christian inhabitants on ye_ said Island, those of y£_ Basterne Church excepted, of what quallity, nation & condition soever, but such as are made of English manufactures or brought out of Eng- land in our owne shipping whether of silke, wooll, or cotton." (Vol. I. p. 53.) He also added " That for the greater decency of the millitary order all the soldiers, as well officers as others, be required

INTRODUCTION. XV

to weare red serges or perpetuanoes only in the summer time,or red cloth in the winter, wrh shall he afforded them at reasonable and cheap rates from y°. Comp*i ware-house, to wcl' end t liat 1 1 Deputy GovL& the rest of yL Councell be advised to give the soldiery encouragem1 by t heir owne example." (Vol. I. p. 53-54). Gerald Aungier informs the Court that for want of properly qualified Englishmen the judicial offices had been filled by Portuguese "w^ is not only dishon^in its selfe but also exposes the GovermL. & proceedings of s'1 Courts to many inconveniencys, where fory* preventing thereof it is indispensible necessary that all proceedings in sd_ Courts of Judicature be don altogether in yL EngL language, for yL. better managem' whereof, yL the Cooip^, would please to send out yearly aconvenient number of p.sons well quallified forsaid offices whose charges & sallarys must be paid out of the ffees, fines & amerciaments, wch shall arise from the said Court9, w^ will be a good livelyhood for y™, so that they not be any charge to yL CompL , having free- dome to trade to improve their stockes toy!L most advantage; this will be a means to strengthen the EngL interest on the Island w?!' at presL is low & weake & consequently not so much esteemed by the natives as it ought to be." (Vol. I. p. 55.)

In 1672 Gerald Aungier made an attempt to reach Bombay. The Governor of Surat however demanded "a round sum of money for his license to yL PL. departure." Gerald Aungier replied that he was " a free merch*,. & no slave or presonL and he was determined to goe without this consent." The Governor then sent "about 2000 souldiers horse & foot about 3 of the clock y"_ same day, being yL 19* curr^, whereof pte. entred & possessed y!5 selves of yL. house, yL rest guarded all yL streets & lanes about it ; forbidding wood, watL & all mannL. of provisions from comeing in ; abusing & beating o*. ministL. who accidently being abroad was comeing in, afterwards he sent for all OL small armes & orr. trumpett wchr were sent him, & to all this force wee shewed not yL least returne of violence, but suffered all patiently treating yL Command1;, of ye soldery w*. much civillity." (Vol. I. p. 61.) The Governor, weare informed, growing ashamed of his conduct, after a lapse of a few hours withdrew the soldiers and " returned all yL armes and yL trumpet." " YL next morning yL PL sent ML Gray w* yL rest of yL Councell to yL ShabundL & yL eminent merch*i of y°_ towne to declare to them yL force w<* was- put upon us; shewing yL. lettL. w$ yL PL writt yL GovL & w*all gave y" to understand y* as wee were in noe fault, so if any evil did ensue thereupon they must not blame us. The merchi8 did all beare wittness of o*. innocence & cryed shame of yL Gov1?: injustice ; since W* yL GovL, seemes sorry for w*. is past, though he is outwardly civill, yet he will not hear of yL PlL o-oeing downe." (Vol. I. p. 61.) Instructions were sent from Surat " for the tryall of those notorious mutiners yL tore yL. Proclamation & opposed yL execution of Justice on yL wench you caused to be shaved and sett on an ass, lett a Jury be empannelled, whom if they finde guilty of mutiny lett them be sentenced, condemned, & executed according to yL3i article of yL Hon"9 CompL lawes for yL preservation of yL peace & suppressing of mutiny .sedition and rebellion." (Vol. I. p. 64.) In May, 1672, Gerald Aungier succeeded in leaving Surat and after a stormy voyage reached Bom- bay on the 7th of June. In a letter dated the 21st June we read—" Wee then began to dispaire.'of yoL safety ; but it pleased God to comfort us ; yt next day being Sunday, as wee satt at dinner, wee reel, his Hon™ lettL to oL infinite contentmt w* y*. comfortable newes of his safe arri vail on ye Island yL 7* curr^. After such eminent & great dangers as he encountred, for w^ wee rendL thanks to Almighty God, and as in such cases wee ought to signifie also to yL world oL gladness, the next day the whole family remembered so great a blessing at Mirza Mosums garden." (Vol. I. p. 67.)

Xvi INTRODUCTION.

The unsettled state of the Government compelled Gerald Aungier to reside at Bombay for three years. John Fryer, M.D. Cantabrig, who was in Bombay in 1673, tells us that " these three years he has regulated affairs with that prudence, that whereas he found a disaffected and incongruous Council, he has now knit them into a bond of at least seeming friendship ; and does daily study to advance the Company's interest and the good safety of the people under him.' Fryer describes the town as a full mile in length : " the houses are low, and thatched with oleas of the socoe-trees, all but a few the Portugals left, and some few the Company have built, the cotton-house and ware-houses are tiled or plastered, and instead of glass, use panes of oister- shells for their windows (which as they are cut in squares and polished, look gracefully enough). There is also a reasonable handsome Buzzar." The Governor of Bombay even at that early date kept considerable state, for Fryer informs us — " The President has a large Commission and is Vice- Regis ; he has a Council here also, and a guard when he walks or rides abroad, accom- panied with a party of horse, which are constantly kept in the stables, either for pleasure or service. He has his chaplains, physician, chyrurgeons, and domesticks ; his linguist, and mint-master : at meals he has his trumpets usher in his courses, and soft musick at the table ; if he move out of his chamber, the silver staves wait on him ; if down stairs, they guard him. If he go abroad, the Bandarines and Moors under two standards march before him : he goes sometimes in his coach, drawn by large milk-white oxen, sometimes on horseback, other times in Palenkeens, carried by Gohors, Musslemen porters : always having a Sumbrero of state carried over him : and those of the English inferior to him, have a suitable train."

Aungier during his stay at Bombay improved the fortifications of the place and laid out the town. He also quelled a formidable mutiny and organized the administration. On the 1 6th July 1674 he made his famous convention, now printed for the first time, with the inhabitants of the island (Appendix C). From this document we learn "that the people thought fit of their own tree motion, by mutual assent, in a public declaration and manifesto to propose to the Governor in Council that they would pay a yearly contribution or compensation of twenty thousand Xeraphins per annum to the Honourable Company including the present quit-rent or Foros, provided that the present possessors of their respective lands and estates may be confirmed and established in their possessions and thereby be secure from all doubts & scruples that may arise thereafter ; and that the lands generally seized may be restored to the pretenders thereunto." " On this the Governor and Council did think good to appoint a general assembly of the chief representatives of the said people to be held at the Castle of Bombay." On the 4th October 1673 the representatives of the people presented the Governor and Council a paper containing twelve articles, but as a debate arose concerning them, " it pleased the said Governor fy Council to appoint a General Assembly, whereunto all the people in general interested in the affair were invited to appear." The General Assembly met at Bombay Castle on the 1st November, where the said declaration and articles presented by the people were publicly read and the convention was signed by " one hundred and twenty of the eminents of the Povo (or parishioners) on behalf of the whole Povo of the isle. On the following July Gerald Aungier caused another General Assembly to be held in Bombay Castle.

" Whereas the Governor and Council have been given to understand that several inhabitants of the Isle did give out divers words tending to the dishonor and discredit of the HonM? Com- panys Government on this Isle, saying that the above contract made between the Governor or Honb|5 Company and the Povo was unjust and aforesaid contract, whereupon the Governor

INTRODUCTION. XV'H

Summoned all the Povo to meet at a General Assembly in Bombay Castle this day, win r. In-ing assembled accordingly, the Governor declared the cause of their assembly bin this day desiring them to declare their minds freely without the least apprehension of fear OOnoeriUBg their sense of the said contract and whether they owned those exclamations against it, declaring further that they were at their own liberty whether it should be •lisannulbd and made void or

be confin I, whereupon the Povo in general said they never exclaimed against the said oofr

tract but were thoroughly satisfied therewith and with the justice thereof, it being an affair of their own request and seeking after, and desired that the Governor and Council would I- pleased to ratify and confirm the said contract unto them, which was unanimously on l>.,th sides agreed on, and signed and confirmed by both parties in Bombay Castle the 16^ July l(>74. 26, Caroli Secundi, Regis Anglise, &c."

In September 1G75, Aungier returned to Surat. In December we find him writing — " As to y_i Judges salary, having respect as well to ol Ml? orders as also to his present condition & y° quality of y«_ employm*, wee have ordered y\ his salary be 120 pound, to be paid him quarterly, and to begin from his entrance into office, and y| he be allowed a horse or pallankeen with a Sumbrera boy, as also a gowne yearely at yjl Coma» charge, & he is req1^1 to keepe an exact acco.1 of all monys rec J*, and fines, and having thereout discharged w^ is layed out for yJL sessions dinners, officers fees and public expences, yi remaindl. he is to pay into y£ HonM? Com« cash." (Vol. I. p. 73.) The Presidents also laments "y*T frequent mortal- ity of o£_ countrymen and doe with you impute it to their grosse and scandalous irregularitys in their sickness, wSh we judge would be much prevented if we had an Hospitall, wherefore wee have determined God willing to erect soe necessary a building w^L' all speed without attending further order from England, and wee doe hereby desire you to prepare materials wthout further delay on yfL Hon^!? Comp<™ charge, or if you want wee will supply you from hence." The new hospital proved a success, for in a letter from Bombay written next year, we read — "Our soldiers, thanks be to God, continue very healthful], for whereas last yeare from October to Febrv there died above 100 men, this yeare wee have not lost 15, most of woh of imposthumation in y_? liver much of w£!i benefit we must attribute to oJL new hospitall, wee having taken y «_old Court of Judicature for y± use, it being a thing so highly necessary, for the souldiers doe not die by any such fatality concomitant to yJL clime as some vainly imagine, but by their irregu- laritty & want of due attendance when sick. For to persons in a flux & . . . . wrh i> country diseases, strong drink & flesh is mortall, W* to make an English souldier leave off is almost as difficult as to make him divest his nature, nay though present death be laid down before him as the reward of y.e_ ill gratifying his palate. This is the true cause our Boml bills of mortallity have swelled so high, whereas in yi. Hospitall nothing can come in or out w*tout passing yj. Doctours eyes, yJL wee have great confidence this Hospitall will SB yo_I Hon™ some hundred pounds yearely w^ y^ transport of soulders exacts." (Vol. I. p. 120). Though a Judge was appointed, the administration of justice in the island of Bombay continued to cause considerable anxiety to the President at Surat, for in a letter dated 8^ February, 1675-76, we find — "And as wee desire that justice may be don soe we would have you take care yL vexatious suites, and contrivances layed by common Barristors* to disturb y«_ quiet of

* Barrator or Barrator, Lat. barractator, Fr. barratcur. A common mover of suits and quarrels, either in courts, or elsewhere in the country, that is himself never quiet-, but at variance with one or other. Lambard derives the word barrator from the Lat. balatro, a vilo knave : but the proper derivation is from the Fr. barrateuri i, e. a deceiver, and this agrees with the description of common barrator in Lord Coke's Reports, viz. that he is a common mover and maintainer of suits in disturbance of the peace, aud in taking and detaining the possession of houses or lands, or goods by false inventions, etc. 8 Rep. 37.

c 1255—5 int

Xviii INTRODUCTION.

good people, may be discouraged and prevented. And let y<L Judge know from us that wee expect he maintaine the gravity, integrity, & authority of his office ; and that he doth not bring a disrepute on the Court of Bombay by lightness, partiality, self-seeking, or countenancing common Barristors, in w^ sort of vermine they say Bombay is very unhappy." (Vol.1, p. 81.)

In March 1675 "a large Mallabar vessell bound from some porte on y<L Coast to Broach off Diu encountred with a Portugues vessell who would have made prize of her. She resolutely resisted and fought them four dayes together. At length finding them too powerfull for her, she was forced to disburthen herselfe of some part of her lading, and came into Bombay under the Command of the ffort, the Portugues vessell persuing her as far as Caranjah, where he went in his boat to Bombay and from thence took a handole and went to Bassein, acquainting the Cap*- Generall of all that had passed, who immediately in a hot passionate humour raises 500 or 600 men (and orders the raising more) and comes as farr as Bandora, sends word to y % Dep*^ Governour that the Mallabarr vessell was their prize and requires her speedy delivery or he would invade the Island, to w^ the Dep^? Govl reply ed that it was contrary to all law and justice, and that he could not answere it to his Superiours if he should deliver her up, and as to invading the Island they should make such convenient provision to withstand him, as they judged most necessary, let him come when he would, and since it is reported he is returned very calmly without atchieving any thing but reproach, and shame, being mightely dispised by the Portugalls in general for his rashness." (Vol. I. p. 84-85). Gerald Aungier would himself have returned to Bombay at this crisis but was prevented owing to " this Gov1! jealousyes ". However, he had no great dread of the Portu- guese, for he writes, " Though they barke frequently, yett we know they dare not bite, wee little concerne ol selves for anything they dare doe, and wish they would begin to quarrell ". The Portuguese did not begin the quarrel, and for two years longer Gerald Aungier con- ducted the Government of Bombay and Surat with great skill and judgment. In a letter dated Surat, yfL 30^ June 1677, we read—" It hath pleased God to our great sorrow after a tedious sickness to take out of this life o * worthy Preside Gerald Aungier, who dec<L this morning between four and five of y 1 clock, of w^ wee thought good to give you this timely notice, y*_ you might prevent all innovations or disturbances upon y • island." The Bombay Council in acknowledging the receipt of this sad intelligence remark — "Wee cannot rightly expres y L reallity of our grief wee conceived at y «L perusall of y_? deplorable news of the death of our late noble Presid^. Multiplicity of words may multiply y^ sence of our loss, but cannot depaint its greatness & yJL knowledge wee have of y£_ true worth and integrity of his succes- sour, & it shall be our continuall prayers for a blessing on your great affairs." (Vol. I. p. 133).

After staying a short time at Bombay, John Fryer, M.D. Cantabrig, proceeded to Surat, and he has given us a glimpse of the social life of the Factory and how the public business was conducted. " The President," he writes, " has spacious lodgings, noble rooms for counsel and entertainment, pleasant tanks, yards, and an hummum to wash in ; but no gardens in the city, or very few, though without they have many, like wildernesses, overspread with trees. The English had a neat one, but Seva Gi's coming, destroyed it : it is known, as the other factories are, by their several flags flying. Here they live (in ship- ping-time) in a continual hurly-burly, the Banyans presenting themselves from the hour of ten till noon ; and then afternoon at four till night, as if it were an exchange in every row ; below stairs, the packers and warehouse-keepers together with merchants bringing and receiving musters, make a meer Billinsgate ; for if you make not a noise, they hardly think you intent of what you are doing. Among the English, the business is distributed into four offices ; the

INTRODUCTION. XIX

Accomptant, who is next in dignity to the President, the general accompta of all I ml la, as well as this place, passing through his hands; he is Quasi Treasurer, signing all things, though the Broker keeps the cash. Next him is the Warehouse-keeper, who registers all Bunpe good* vended, and receives all Eastern commodities bought ; under him is the Purser Marine, who gives account of all goods exported and imported, pays seamen their wages, provides waggons and porters, looks after tackling for ships, and ships stores. Lastof all is the Secretary. uh<> ui-kI-U all consultations, writes all letters, carries them to the President and Council to be perused and signed; keeps the Company's seal, which is affixed to all passes and commissions; records all transactions, and sends copies of them to the Company ; though none of these, without the President's approbation, can act or do any thing. The affairs of India are solely under his regulation ; from him issue out all orders, by him all preferment is disposed ; by which means the Council are biassed by his arbitrament. The whole mass of the Company's servants may be comprehended in these classes, viz., Merchants, Factors, and Writers; some blewcoat boys also have been entertained under notion of apprentices for seven years, which being expired, if they can get security, they are capable of employments. The writers are obliged to serve five years for £10 per annum giving in bond of £500 for good behaviour, all which time they serve under some of the forementioned offices : after which they commence Factors, and rise to preferment and trust, according to seniority or favour, and therefore have a £1,000 bond exacted from them, and have their salary augmented to £20 per annum for three years, then entring into new indentures, are made Senior Factors ; and lastly, Merchants after three years more ; out of whom are chose Chiefs of Factories, as places fall, and are allowed £40 per annum during their stay in the Company's service, besides lodgings and victuals at the Com- pany's charges.

These in their several seigniories behave themselves after the fundamentals of Sural, and in their respective factories live in the like grandeur ; from whence they rise successively to be of the Council in Surat, which is the great Council; and if the President do not contradict, are sworn, and take their place accordingly, which consists of about five in number, besides the President, to be constantly Resident. As for the Presidency, though the Company interpose a deserving man, yet they keep that power to themselves, none assuming that dignity till con- firmed by them : his salary from the Company is £500 a year ; half paid here, the other half reserved to be received at home, in case of misdemeanor to make satisfaction ; beside a bond of £5,000 sterling of good securities. The Accountant has £72 per annum, fifty pound paid here, the other at home : all the rest are half paid here, half at home, except the writers, who have all paid here. Out of the Council are elected the Deputy-Governor of Bombaim and Agent of Persia ; the first a place of great trust, the other of profit ; though, by the appointment from the Company, the second of India claims Bombaim, and the Secretary of Surat the Agency of Persia, which is connived at, and made subject to the will of the President, by the interest of those whose lot they are ; chusing rather to reside here, where consignments compensate those emoluments ; so that none of the Council, if noted in England, but makes considerably by his place, after the rate of five in the hundred, commission ; and this is the Jacob's ladder by which they ascend. It would be too mean to descend to indirect ways, which are chiefly managed by the Banyans, the fittest tools for any deceitful undertaking; out of whom are made Broakers for the Company, and private persons, who are allowed two per cent, on all bargains, besides what they squeeze secretly out of the price of things bought ; which cannot be well

XX INTRODUCTION.

understood for want of knowledge in their language ; which ignorance is safer, than to hazard being poysoned for prying too nearly into their actions : though the Company, to encourage young men in their service, maintain a master to learn them to write and read the language, and an annuity to be annexed when they gain a perfection therein, which few attempt, and fewer attain. To this factory belongs twenty persons in number, reckoning SivaUy Marine into the account ; a Minister for Divine Service, a Chirurgion, and when the President is here, a guard of English soldiers, consisting of a double file led by a Serjeant. The present Deputy has only forty Moor-men, and a Flagman carrying Si George his colours swallow-tailed in silk, fastened to a silver partisan ; with a small attendance of horse with silver bridles, and furniture for the gentlemen of the house, and coaches for ladies and Council. The President besides these has a noise of trumpets, and is carried himself in a Palenkeen, an horse of state led before him, a Mirchal (a fan of ostriches feathers) to keep off the sun, as the ombrahs or great men have, none but the Emperor have a Sumbrcro among the Moguls : besides these, every one according to his quality has his menial servants to wait on him in his chamber, and follow him out."

On the death of Gerald Aungier the administration of the Presidency devolved on Mr. Rolt, the Agent at Gombroon, and the Government of Bombay on Mr. Henry Oxinden. The Home authorities now determined on a, considerable reduction in the expenditure. It was decided in case of the death of the President or his departure for Europe that his successor should have the title of Agent and that the salary of the post should be reduced to £300 per annum. The salary of the Second in Council was reduced to £80 per annum and the emolu- ments of the remaining members of the establishments proportionally diminished. The pay of the Deputy Governor of Bombay was lowered to £120 per annum as the strength of the military establishment was reduced to two lieutenants, two ensigns, four sergeants, four corporals and one hundred and eighty privates. All further improvement in the fortifications was stopped and only two gunners and four matrisses allowed for the batteries. All the armed ships were sold except one small frigate and a few boats to defend the fishery. The Bombay Government also stated that they did not "see ye_ absolute necessity of allowing 120 pounds to a Judge, not that wee would have y •. Island destitute of a person invested w*£ authority to determine y_£ weightiest causes, but yl very name sounds too great for y~+ place. It lookes like y_|_ great Gate of little Pendus that made Diogenes affraid y± citty would runn out at them. Those who come to these parts are commonly mean persons or young men but very little skill'd in our law, and yl name of a Judge does fill y™ with such a pride that they loose yJL reason in y£_ contemplation of their greatness and think no man ya superiour, scarcely y_F equal ; and if he, that is y_S principal Justice, be invested by yf same power and act by a full Commission, why is it not yA same thing." (Vol. I. p. 140.)

Two years after the reductions had been made in the military and naval establishments, the island of Kenery was occupied by the troops of Shivaji, and the Deputy Governor had neither the ships nor the men to compel them to retire. This event was followed by the seizure of the island of Henery by the Sidi. The Home authorities on hearing of the seizure of these islands resolved, that, if they could not be recovered by negotiation, no attempt was to be made to recover them by force. But for the greater security of Bombay Captain Keigwin was sent out in command of a reinforcement of seventy English soldiers and eighteen pieces of small ordnance. He was ordered to assume the command of the whole military force and

INTRODUCTION. XX i

militia of the island, and for this responsible command his pay was to be six shillings per day, but no allowance for diet and lodging. A Mr. Smith was also sent as Assay- Master to manage the Mint at a salary of £60 per annum. In 1681 Rolt the Governor died, and two years later an altercation having taken place between Kcigwin and the Deputy Governor on the subject of military retrenchment the former raised the standard of rebellion. On the 27th December 1683, Captain Keigwin assembled the troops and militia and proclaimed the Island of Bombay to be immediately under the government of the King. He seized and confined Ward the Deputy Go- vernor and such members of Council as adhered to him. He also took possession of the Company's ship " Return " and the "Hunter" frigate. Keigwin then addressed letters to the King and the Duke of York expressing his determination to maintain the Island for the King till His Majesty's pleasure should be known. The King on hearing the news of the revolt at Bombay sent a mandate under bis sign manual to Keigwin requiring him to deliver up the island. On the 19th November 1684 Keigwin on promise of pardon handed over the island to Admiral Sir Thomas Grantham. During the time he ruled Bombay he proved himself to bo a man of considerable administrative capacity. When the revolt was quelled Sir John Childo became Governor with John Vause as Deputy Governor, and after ruling for five years he was succeeded by Sir John Wyborne. In a letter dated Bombay, " August y?_ 13*2; 1686," we read "that wee deferred y * giveing possession to S_F John Wyborne some few days was rather y4 better to p.forme, then in opposition to yo ? orders, for weereci yo_r, ExSZ£&c* letter yi 18^ June (being Ffryday). Wee had not time to doe it w^! ji decency sutable to one of his quallity till yl (following week, and soe soone yj? RJ Honors Coinp'™ estate could not be examined, wi^out w?j! he could notreci? y4 charge nor give a discharge to y • late DepJ; Govi; ; besides noe such oath to be found, and he is unwilling to take one of o± fframing, for w£^ reasons and y! all matters might be setled in a more ample mannl, it was unanimously agreed by y_? approbation of S ' John Wyborne yj> it would be more advantagious to putt it off till y • 30^ June, not imagining wee had been stinted to soe short a time since oJ, predecessor have taken much longer."( Vol. I. p. 142). On the 30th August Wyborne wrote to Surat and informed them "of y?. arrivall of a French man of war." Y± Cap* saves that all things are in peace and quietness in Europe amongst yl Christians, and that our King is a fitting of shipps of warr to sea, and y • French King is a doing y 5_ like. He likewise says that he was in England not mar. y days before he came on this voyage and at our Kings Court at Whitehall where he observed these altera- tions. Lord Keeper North removed from yl seale and L* Chief Justice Jeffery made Li Chancellor of England, Lord Marquess Hallifax commanded to his country house and some others placed and displaced."

In a letter to the Right Honorable Company the Bombay Government state that during the year the mortality has been very great " and cheifest reason y_* can be given is y • absolute want of good Europe medicines y * should have been yearly sent out fresh. Here has been none from yr_ Hono™ since y!Lyeare 1682 — 3, w!* puts us to use yl country Physick, w+ ser only to augment yj? charge of y 1 garrison and does men more hurt than good." (Vol. I. p. 148). The Bombay Government also state that they consider a dry dock would be of great service. They protest against the order for the reduction of the pay of the soldier and that all should be dismissed who did not acquiesce in the reduction. They write, "if y4 Right Honourable CompiL should but begin wth one private sentinell to casheir him on yL account, they would possibly leave but few, but what has allready repented of their coming out, and would be glad of n 1255 — 6 int

XXU INTRODUCTION.

such an occasion to quitt their service, for most part of what now come out are able seamen and will not be yoaked unless it be easier to y™ y°. y!_ sea, and considering yi_ circumstances our nation lyes under here in India, not knowing how soon we may be in action fory£_ honour and good of our nation, we humbly offer it as our opinions not at this juncture to effect that, but rather labour undL_ an incouragemJL y2L a discouragemL_ to men that must stand by us, and no doubt but will when their pay is encourageing and all they fight for." (Vol. I. p. 155). The last letter written by John Wyborne informs the Council at Surat that there has " happened a business of very ill consequence, y<L Portuguese Padree of Bombay, by name Ffrea JnJl D? Gloria, did in his own Parrish church christen or receive into y •_ Boniish religion one Nathanaell Thorpe, sone to Lieu .* Thorpe deceased." (Vol. I. p. 157). He proceeds to inform the Council that the offence "by severall statutes is made high treason," and "this being a weighty thing to be considered and much more to be suffered, have legally apprehended y* said Padree and is now in safe custody untill your Ex£Z? &c* further orders about him. We presume your Exf^ &ci; will have yJL mater stated according to the Cannons of our Church by our Padrees here and remitt yj same by this conveniency. The Padree was committed prisoner to yf County Goale in yi Bazzar by Judg Vaulk^on the ll!!1 instant and layd in y± room where Mi. Thorburne was, and yesterday by yJL earnest intercession of y £_ Padree of Mahim and a strange Padree yj; Deputy Governor Ml. Stanly & Mi Jessop ordered him to be removed from yi Common Goale to his own Parrish Church of Bombay, where he is confined with a guard over him to see that he does not escape nor act in y ? Church untill your Excellencies pleasure be known what shall be done in this matter." (Vol. I. p. 158).

In 1686 the Court of Directors appointed Sir John Child their President or General at Surat to be the Governor General of all their possessions in the East. He was to proceed for three months to Fort George, and, if necessary, to go to Bengal to consolidate the administra- tion. The seat of Government was also ordered to be transferred, and on the 2nd May 1687 Sir John Child and the Council having quitted Surat arrived at Bombay. In September of the same year, in order that the Government of the Company might assume the rank of an Indian Power, Bombay was elevated to the dignity of a Kegency with unlimited sway. A high-sounding title is however of little use unless supported by arms. The year after being elevated to the dignity of a Regency Bombay was attacked by the fleet of the Sidi : the greater part of it was taken, and the Governor besieged in the town and castle. The Sidi army amounted to 25,000 men, while the English force did not muster more than 2,500. J. Ovington, M.A., Chaplain to His Majesty, who visited Bombay in 1689, the year after the siege, informs us that " notwithstanding which odds the English kept them warmly in play, and for all that disadvantage, repuls'd them with such vigour, that for some months they were unable to approach the fort, though they landed not very far from it. The English were buoyed up with a strong opinion of their own valour, and of the Indians pusillanimity, which carried them on to such bold adventures, that they promised themselves victory in the most dubious engagements ; and had they not been betray'd by renegades, who discover'd their weakness* and smallness of their numbers, might have hoped to have repelled that numerous host, with that weak force they had to resist them. But the enemy being taught the art of mineing and sheltering themselves in their trenches and basket-works, (which they learnt from the deserters) came at length so near, that they bombarded our fort with massive stones instead of iron bullets, whilst our shot from thence was scarce able to annoy them, they were so

INTRODUCTION.

XXHI

defended by the moulds thoy cast up. Our fort wtjs well flanked with bastions, having the sea on one side, and encompassed on the other with a broad and deep ditch, and bad mounted on all sides very large guns : but the decay of powder and ammunition, which the constant firing had produced, and the Mogal's army close investing of the fort, made it advi>ah|. in our General to think on a peace, winch was in a little time concluded upon ; upon which the Siddy left the Island." On the 4th February 1690 Sir John Child who "was a quick and expert merchant, and totally devoted to his masters service," died and was succeeded &i President of Surat and Governor of Bombay by Bartholomew Harris. Be was at the time in prison, having been confined with the other factors by the Governor of the town because Child had seized some Moghul vessels. It was not till April ^6*90 that Harris and the factors were released from prfa and then for more than a year they were closely confined to the factory.

From the imprisonment of the factors dates the decline of English interest in Surat, for the Company now determined to increase their efforts to make themselves an independent power at Bombay. " The Moghul," they wrote, " should see that the English Company were no loi dependent on him for help and countenance in Surat. There were other markets where his power do not reach. Ships laded at Calicut and Karwar should sail from Bombay to Europe, and let the Surat traders see that goods were to be found in other parts of India besides Gujarat. " Vause, who had been book-keeper for Sir Josiah Child in England, was appointed Deputy Governor. After he had filled the office for two years, he was suspended from the service and was succeeded by Cook, who died the same season, and Weldon was appointed to the post. Samuel Annesley was made President of Sural In 1694 Sir John Gayer was appointed Governor of Bombay with the revived title of General. "In Ffeby y4 11*, 1695, he wrote to the RA. Worspl Sam' Annesley that three French ships came about Mallabar Point, & at sunset anchored off the point of Old Womans Island, where they yet remaine." Four days afterwards he writes to the President at Surat — " Yesterday about 11 o'clock the three Ffrench ships formerly advised you of that lay att anchor off Old Womans Island weighed and betook themselves to a light pair of heels, haveing, as we are informed by our return boat, sight of the ships that went in quest of them off Dunda Rojapore." The French ships however returned, for March 13th, 1695-96, we read — " Wee have kept the Cossetts till this morning, that we might advise yj? what more we could concerning the Ffrench, and now we have onely to add that all five are at anchor in the Bay between Old Womans Island and Mallabar Hill." (Vol. I. p. 162).

In September 1695 tidings reached Surat that a pirate whose vessel carried English colours had plundered a ship belonging to one of the principal merchants of the town ; and the news so incensed the inhabitants that the Governor had to place a guard in the factory to prevent the inmates from being plundered and massacred. Immediately afterwards news arrived that the same pirate had attacked a vessel belonging to the Emperor and plundered the pilgrims that were on board, and this so enraged the populace that the Governor had to put the President and all the English in irons so as to prevent their being torn to pieces by the inhabitants. Sir John Gayer as General of the Company's affairs at Bombay wrote to the Governor and Emperor and complained that the servants of the Company had been made to suffer from the sets of those who not only did not possess the license of the Company but who acted in direct violation of the laws of England, and who, if taken, would be liable to capital punishment. The memorial to the Governor of Surat and the Emperor had some effect, for an answer came from the Imperial Court that the English, French, and Dutch should put to sea in search of the thieves, but the embargo on all trade must continue till the innocence or guilt of the English Company should be proved.

XXIV INTRODUCTION.

The imprisonment of their servants transferred the trade of the Company at Surat to their rivals, and at Bombay it was killed by heavy transit duties. In 1697 Sir John Gayer solicited permission to resign on a proper successor being appointed'; but protested against Mr. Annesley as having mismanaged the Company's business entrusted to his chai-ge. President Annesley was dismissed under the Court's orders and Mr. Colt appointed President of Surat.

The London East India Company, which had for a century created and preserved the trade between England and India, which had founded factories and surmounted many difficulties, in 1698 found itself brought to the brink of ruin by the establishment of a new Company called the English Company. In January 1700 Sir Nicholas Waite, the English Company's President for Surat, arrived off Bombay, and notified to Sir John Gayer his appointment to be the King's Minister and Consul General for the English nation. On these grounds he demanded com- pliance with his orders. Sir John Gayer however refused to acknowledge that he had any authority over the servants of the London Company. Sir Nicholas Waite finding he could make no impres- sion on Sir John Gayer and his Council at Bombay sailed for Surat. On reaching that port he notified his Royal Commission of appointment to the President and Council and required them to strike the St. George's or Company's flag, as he bore the Commission of Vice Admiral and would allow no other flag than his own. The President and Council refused to comply with his request. The Governor of Surat also informed Sir Nicholas Waite that the Commission or " Phirmaund" of the King of England was of no authority at Surat unless the Emperor chose to regard it as valid. He also added that the flag of the London Company flew by the permission of the Moghul. Sir Nicholas Waite now tried force and he landed two of the Commanders of the ships with fifty men and ordered them to strike the flag. The Governor on hearing that the flag had been struck issued orders that it should be re-hoisted. Sir Nicholas Waite finding that force did not answer used baser arts to gain his end. By bribery, by suggesting that the old Company were in league with pirates and by hinting that they might any day leave Surat with debts unpaid he undermined its power. Sir John Gayer also committed the blunder of leaving the fortifica- tions of Bombay and going to Surat to counteract the influence of his rival, for when he was there orders arrived from the Imperial Court to seize him. From a Record which has almost crumbled to pieces we learn that the Governor's son " secured Si John and his Granaders and then entered y± lodge obliged the Lady Gayer out of the bed, carryed her, M r. Somaster and others to accompany yJL Generall to Suratt before y4 ' Tavistocks ' people had notice or could come ashoare to their rescue, and being brought over the river in an open boat yJL Lady was putt into a hackery covered w^L1 a cloath and carryed to the GovernEi, where w!^ S.I John and others were confined to one roome and some hours after the Governour sent for PresidA Colt who goeing wi| two of his Councell accompanied Si John in said prizon, wEl1 tryumphant act as its esteemed of the Meer was wrote that night to the EmpZ to y*. noe small dishonour of yJL old Comp^f Generall of India." (Vol. I. p.227). In a Consultation held in Suratt y^- 7^ Jan^ 1701-2 we read — " This day y± GovZ doubled his guards about yJL ffactory & debarred us from all manner of correspondence w^1 Europeans or Natives, and from all necessarys & conveniences of life, because we would not consent to pay Hosson Ammadan three hundred thousand rupees, for w$ sume he is willing to quit his unjust claim for w_t yJ. pyrates robbed him & his ffreighters of in y± year 1698." (Vol. I. p. 231).

The Chief and Factors were confined for twelve weary months within the walls of their Factory, but neither threats nor starvation would force them to yield to the unjust demands of the Imperial Court. The following does credit to the English name — " The Govl.

INTRODUCTION. JXV

sent us word y * he must obay j± Kings orders: w± did wee designe to do? Did wee designe to starve ourselves ? why did wee not deposite goods & he would write to yl King, & wee might do ye same & y* goods should ley till yl Kings orders came abo* them. Wee returned answer, wee robbed not Hosson Ammadan nor nobody & would not pay or deposite anything; if y 1 Kings orders are to kill us, let him come & do it quickly, wee w^ sell our lives as dear as wee could. Our people on board yJ> ships at y± rivers mouth and likewise those inye ffactory wee could not longer restrain from attempting something extraordinary for y • support of life, therefore he would do well to consider where it would end." (Vol. I. p. 233). A change of G< l nors put an end to the captivity. In the diary for March 17th, 1702, it is stated — " The Gov! having given us assureance of his favour by taking off all our guards but five, and having given us larger promises under his seal mentioned yl. 14* ins*, following 13 upon his request, y ■; < J.-n ' Presid * & Council went to give him a visit, at w^ meeting he was pleased to give us assureances of his favour ; desireing y_l wee would forget y.1 injuries yl had been done us by his predeces- sers by means of our long & severe imprisonment & yl wee would open the Port, wch wee pro- mised to doe. Att our coming away he gave y • Gen1.}, a horse & severall peices of silk, and to y ;; PresdJL & Council y.*. was w^ him several pieces of silk likewise." (Vol. I. p. 236).

On the 29th of October 1792 the following declaration was publicly read by "y*L Sec1? in y_l Ohappel " after the Minister had concluded his sermon — "Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovereign Lord King William ye. third of blessed memory, by whose decease y_i Imperial Crowns of England, Scotland, Ffrance <fc Ireland are solely & rightfully come to yl High & Mighty Princess Ann of Denmark, wee the General Preside & Council for affaires of yl. R*T Hon1**? the Gov_L and Com!, of MerchH of London trading into ye_ East Indies (as y_? Lords spiritual! & temporall of our Realm, being assisted wih those of his late Majestys Privy Council &Ji, numbers of other principal gentlemen of quallity w^ yji Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Citizans of London, have done), do therefore now wth one full voice & consent of tongue and heart, publick and proclaim yi y_e High & Mighty Princess Ann is now, by y er death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawfull and rightfull Liege Lady Ann, by y?_ Grace of God Queen of England, ScotI, France & Ireland, defender of yl ffaith &ci, to whom wee do acknowledge all ffaith & constant obediance ; w*J? all hearty k humble affections, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless yJL Royall Queen Ann w& long and happy years to reign over us," (Vol. I. p. 244).

There were now two English factories at Surat. The President of the factory of the English Company was Sir Nicholas Waite, KnL, Publick Minister and Cons1^ GenlL, Will™ Proby and Jeremy Bonnell were Members of Council : there was also one merchant, the Minister, two Factors, nine Writers, aSurgeon and his mate, a trumpeter and an English cook. In January 1703 the servants of the old Company were S"L John Gayer, KnV. Generall, Hon"! Stephen Colt. President, Worship! Ephraim Bendall, Member of Council, ML. Bernard Wyche, Accompl. and Purser Marine, ML Epiphanius Holland, Chaplain, four senior Factors, five Junior Factors, six Writers and a Doctor. The jealousy and rivalry between the two factories was great. When the army of Shiv&ji set all tlie villages and Surat on fire, Sir John Gayer sent to Sir Nicholas Waite and asked him to spare " tenn Englishmen for to assist us," but he refused to let them have any men. At this grave crisis the Writers of the English Company's factory declared " their resolution not to stand sentinells or doe further duty the yl merchuf & ffaetors." They were summoned before the President and he severely reprimanded them. Two who persisted in their b 1255-7 int

Xxvi INTRODUCTION.

refusal were " discharged the Compi! service and immediately expelled the ff actory, wch example induced y<L rest of yS_ Writers begging pardon, offering a punctual complyance w^ such orders as shall from time to time be given them for y% defence & security of the ffactory." The second attack of the Manithas on Surat does not seem to have been so successful as the first, for we read — " The Sevajee being disappointed of his hopes of plundering & destroying yL. city by ye_ continuall ffiring of y%- great guns from ye_ walls night & day, & some of his principall officers being killed and severall of his spys taken, began to w^draw his army, plundering, burning and destroying all townes and villages round yl_ same." (Vol. I. p. 252).

In 1700 the English Company proposed that the two Companies should be united, but the London Company refused the offer. However, two years later, the two Companies agreed to amalgamate, and they wrote to their servants that their mutual disputes should cease, but Sir Nicholas Waite was not the man to allow disputes to fall under the shadow of oblivion. In June 1703 news reached Surat of the amalgamation, but because the papers first reached Sir John Gayer he refused to acknowledge their validity. At this time the factors were in rigorous confinement and suffering great hardships, for we read — " SepL 8% 1703. Our guards continuing their severity towards us in so barbarous a manner that wee could in no wise persuade yE. to lett us have yl least mouthfull of refreshniL, our provisions being almost spent & our men begining to fall sick & not able to eat wL. wee had, by reason wee were

forced to make use of saltpetre to preserve yL instead of salt, it was resolved

to fling over yl_ following letter to y*, chief of yt, guard for him to carry it to y"L Gov! ." (Vol. I. p. 260). The letter reminded the Governor that " y*. old Compi. setled their ffactory in this city by virtue of yf_ Emp^L Phym^ , w£^ granted that their serv*l shoi carry on their trade without being molested, notwithstanding w0^ though wee have done no manner of wrong or injury to any of y2_ subjects of y* EmpL or any other person whoever, your guards have surrounded our ffactory to prevent us being supplied w^ wL soever is necessary for yL. support of life, so yL wee, our women and children must inevitably perish except you are pleased to relax your orders. Therefore wee desire that you will take yL premises into your consideration & order yj wee may be allowed victuals, yi_ use of our serv^?, & such other necessarys as wee want for our support ; for yL wee have no designe to injure any one or to desert yL. ffactory, as it may be falsely suggested to you, as it is, that Abdull Goffores ship is taken by one yL came out from Bombay, w2^ falsehood may soon be proved if letters were wrote to any Moormen inhabiting there, or to ylPortiguess near that place." (Vol. I. p. 260).

The Factors of the old Company were greatly hurt that Sir Nicholas Waite should hoist the English flag upon his house, " notwithstanding ye_ miserable circumstances y*L Dutch & wee ley under, w£t was an addition to our misery to see yL Union fflagg fly so near us without any hopes of assistance fromthose that presume to wear it." (Vol. I. p. 261). On the 20th December 1703 Sir John Gayer and his party were delighted to hear " yL ye.v King had displaced this Govern1, for his mismanagemL and spoiling the trade of the Port, and that there was a new Govern!! upon the road coming to succeed him, wee sent Moandass Durbarr to meet him with a complimentory letter, and he found opertunity to make known our greivance to him." (Vol. I. p. 263). One of the first acts of the new Governor was to send and demand from the English Company " our best State horse, w$ yL President att first refused, being dead stock could neither sell or present him, upon wc_L the broker declared if he should be denyed such a favour at this criticall juncture might cassually occasion such a resentment, now matters seem to be at a crisis accomodating these late-

INTRODUCTION. XXvii

troubles w*h the inhabitants as well as Europeans, as might bee very prejudicial] to the Companyg alV.iircs.w'1' the President in conjunction wth the Council 1 takeing seriously into consideration, was accordingly sent this evening." (Vol. I. p. 265). In the instructions sent to Surat after the am.d- gamaliou it was stated that Sir John Gayer was to be General and Governor of Bombay and Sir Nicholas Waite President at Surat, but it was provided that, should Sir John Gayer be a prisoner when the instructions arrived,SirNicholasWaiteshould be provisionallyGeneral. TheGovernor of Surat now naturally became anxious to know which of them was the real representative of the English nation and chief officer of the United Company. Sir John Gayer wished to send an agent from each Company to explain the real state of affairs, but Sir Nicholas Waite refused to entertain the pro- posal. He sent his own broker Rustom to the Governor to tell " him y*_. all the old CompV servants were turned out ; yLSL. Nicholas Waite was made Chief. That the ship arrived at Bombay was con- signed to him, as that yL old Company had given the Queen of England one or two lack of nip*, to make their peace." Rustom also told the Governor that " he must secure S"L John Gayer and the old Companys servants to be answerable for the security paper and the many lacks of ru^ the towne merchants had been robbed off by the pyratts, and all demands or debts yl_ any people may make upon the old Companys factory, he must make y*. give satisfacL, for his master would not be answerable for any thing." (Vol. I. p. 267). Next day a Factor of the old Company and their Broker were sent to the Governor's house to answer such questions as might be put to them rela- ting to the settlement of the United Trade. There they found the representatives of the English Company, Messr? Bonnell and Crowe. The Dewan asked, " Who was Presid<L of Suratt then I Answered SL Nich8^ Waite. ML. Bonnell in Portuguese bid Rustom tell the Dewan SL John Gayer was Generall, but it was but for 3 months, and if he did not cleare all the demands that was upon the old Company in that time SL. NichL Waite was Generall, and must go downe to Bombay. W™ Mildmay was asked if that was true. He answered that if it pleased God S.L John should dye or any unforeseen accident should happen to him in that time so that he could not go to Bombay, then SL. NichL Waite was Gen1! ; but as to clearing all the old Comp^. acco^ &c%- before he went there was no occasion, for there would be those of the old Companys servants left that would take care to pay what any one col justly demand of them." (Vol. I. p. 267-268). The representative of the English Company now " pul'd out of his pocket the Hon,;lr EngL. Companys seal, and laid it before all the company, and asked if W nay could deny

that to be the Companys seal, and whether ye letters y*. now came was not sealed with it." William Mildmay said " he could not denie but that it was, and the letters were sealed with it, as by agreemL. between the two Comp^. in England when they united. Then M1;. Bonnell opened the Indenture of Union in a page turned downe, clapt his hand upon it, and asked if we could deny the old Comp %. being turned out and the trade brought under the management of the new, w*£ that and the seal testifyed. W'L. Mildmay said he did not deny any thing contained in those writeings, neither had he any orders to answer to such questions, and asked the gentlemen the reason of their bringing these things upon the stage. At this time wee had been sufficiently deprest allready, had they a mind to bury us quite underground. They were then all carry ed before yl_ GovernL." (Vol. I. p. 268). On hearing what had taken place at Surat, Mr. Burniston the Deputy Governor of Bombay, and Harland, Commodore of the men-of-war, declared to the Governor of Surat that Sir John Gayer was in fact the General of the I'nit.-d Company in India, and demanded his release. The Governor afraid that the men-of-war might act on the offensive, insisted on a bond from Sir Nicholas Waite that he would immediately proceed to Bombay and in the event of any Surat ships being taken he would deliver them up. Sir Nicholas

XXviii INTRODUCTION.

Waite asked the Commodore for a passage, but he was so indignant at his conduct that he refused the request. Sir Nicholas Waite was therefore obliged to go to Bassein and from thence proceeded in a country boat to Bombay (1704). He described it as " this beggarly, ruined but fertile island." He also implored the Court to have his " sonn to be settled in y^ Bay rather y% in this place of mortallity w:Lhout shiping or as yet trade."* There were then on the island but eight Covenanted Civilians including Members of Council, two persons more who could write and two youths taken from the ships. The army consisted of six commissioned officers and not quite forty English soldiers. Civilians and soldiers all were suffering from illness. " It will be morally impossible," writes one of them, " to continue much longer from going under ground, if we have not a large assistance out before October." For three years Waite ruled the " very unhealthfull island," when his services were discontinued and the Company acknowledged the zeal that he had shown for their interest and thanked him for his services. It has been stated that Waite was dismissed, but the following extract from fragments of a letter which has crumbled to pieces shows that he resigned the Governorship of Bombay. After solemnly protesting that he left Surat the poorest President, he adds, " and I have not gott twelve hundred pounds in near three years under these clouded circumstances upon this island, besides sallary not yett rec i, not but that I very well understand the traditional methods of accumulating suitable to the consciences of each person, for w£^ I never will incurr the curse of heaven upon myselfe or posterity. I humbly intreat, whenever it may suit w* your interest, and avoid further heals betwixt you and the old Company, please to appoint a successor, who if not a compleat merchant, not overhasty to be rich, and something acquainted w^ the laws of England and Europe, and not altogether ignorant of agriculture, but see and hear wth7 other mens eyes & ears will never answer the end of your great charge to settle this island. I hope you'l doe me the lion r admitting me going off Grov_L, or the old Company will have their end, as has bin asserted to disgrace me in India, will lay a perpetuall obligation, w<^ upon all occasions shall be greatfully acknowledged."

Five years after Waite left Surat the English, no longer able to endure the annoyances and exactions which they had to endure at the hands of the Governor of the city, withdrew from the town and their factories was closed for three years. In 1715 an embassy was sent from Calcutta to the Emperor at Delhi and it was accompanied by a medical gentleman of the name of Hamilton. The Emperor, who was suffering from a disorder, was advised to make trial of his skill and a cure was the speedy consequence. The Emperor commanded his benefactor to name his own reward : and the generous Hamilton solicited privileges for the Company. The Emperor not only gave the embassy the privileges they required for Bengal, but also granted them a new Firman for the factors at Surat. By this charter all duties on the Company's imported goods were commuted for an annual tribute of ten thousand rupees. Forty acres of land were granted them wherever they might choose to establish a factory and all vessels wrecked on the coast were ordered to be protected from plunder and exorbitant demands for salvage. On the receipt of this charter the English returned to their factory (1716) and enjoyed quiet for a few years when the old game of extortion was again begun and continued for many years. In 1733 the Governor ill-treated some of the English dependants of the factory, and, as no redress could be obtained, the English Chief and his friends left Surat and remained on board their ships at the mouth of the river. They established a blockade of the port which caused the price of provisions

* Note. — The letter of Sir Nicholas Waite is in such a state of decay that it is impossible to decipher the whole pf it and print it as a consecutive letter.

DJTBODCCTION. XXUt

to rise, and so groat became the discontent of the city that the Governor was forced to yield to aD the demands of the English. In 1735 the guards were removed from the English factory and the native merchants and brokers were told that they were again free to trade with the English. The trade of the factory again became prosperous. In 1741 the factors wrote — " Our business goes on without impediment, & we will not be otherwise as we shall only confine ourselves to our own sphere, & not the least interfere with any transactions to Government, further than supporting your Honours privileges when called in question." But in Surat, as in all parte of India, the English found it impossible to confine themselves to their own sphere. In 1748 they had to take part in the faction fights that took place between the supporters of the different claimants for the Governorship of the city. (Vol. I. p. 283). Three years after this skirmish the Sidhi sent some cruisers to Surat to recover the subsidy paid him annually for the protection of the Moghul fleet and which the Surat Government had allowed to fall into arrears. The Com- mander of the fleet, Sidhi Masud, while at Surat found an opportunity of seizing the Castle. The Sidhi and the Dutch now united in recalling Safdar Khan the Governor, whom the English had aided in expelling and in ousting Mia Atchand their protege*. The English now entered into a treaty with the Marathas for dividing the government of the city between them. They were to attack it from the river, while a force of Marathas under Raghunathrav was to attack it on the land side. The plan broke down utterly. The Maratha army on account of being urgently needed in the Deccan was recalled and the English had to retire to Bombay. The factors were once more placed in confinement and their gardens and cattle taken from them. The President made a treaty with Safdar Khan and the Sidhi Masud by which he bound himself to send from Surat all the soldiers in the Company's service, European as well as Native. The Bombay Government repudiated the treaty, and the President so keenly felt their censure that he committed suicide. In 1752 a fresh treaty was drawn up by which the English had their property restored and £20,000 granted to them for the losses they had incurred. During the next few years Sidhi Masud was the virtual Governor of the city. On his death the Dutch and his son had a severe struggle with the English and Safdar Khan as to which party should be supreme. In 1 758 Mia Atchund returned to Surat, and by the aid of the Sidhi again made himself Governor of the Castle. The factors at Surat however complained that he had no control over the dependants of the Sidhi, " and the Sciddees son being most commonly in liquor, no inquiry is made into things or satisfaction given though frequent murders are committed in the streets. From these and other inferos ; i ng considerations it is that the whole body of merchants are desirous the Castle should be in our hands." The request came at an opportune moment, for a squadron of men-of-war were at the time in the harbour, and the Bombay Government determined to reinforce the Company's armament with two ships and to despatch guns and troops to capture the Castle. On the 7th March 1759 came in an express boat " with a letter from the Chief and Factors at Surat, dated the 5th insl, advising that they had the evening before acquired possession of the Castle and Tanka for the Hony? Company witli the Sciddees fleet bunder, and everything belonging to the Mogul in the Castle or elsewhere." In the Diaries there is no detailed account of the capture of Surat, but in " An Account of the War in India by Richard Owen, Cambridge," printed in 1761, we have the following particulars — " Captain Maitland of the royal regiment of artillery being appointed to take the command of eight hundred and fifty men, artillery and infantry, and fifteen hundred sepoys, was sent on board the Company's armed vessels, commanded by Captain Watson, who sailed on the ninth of February, and landed them the fifteenth. When Captain Maitland approached the town, he found some of the Siddee's people had taken post in the French garden, from whence he i b 1255—8 int

XXX INTRODUCTION.

lodged them after a hot dispute of four hours, in which he lost twenty men. He then directed the Engineer to look out for a proper place for a battery, which was erected in the night, and the next day, and also the three following, a brisk fire was kept up from two four and twenty pounders and a thirteen-inch mortar. The enemy had taken possession of the English garden and Siddee's Bunder and bad secured them with works and strong palisadoes. After this continued firing without any apparent effect, Captain Maitland called a council of war, composed of Military and Marine officers, when they concerted a plan for a general attack and resolved to carry it into execution the next morning. In pursuance of this plan the Company's grabs and bomb ketches warpt up the river in the night and anchored opposite the Bunder early in the morning, and then a general attack began from the vessels and a battery, with a design to drive the enemy from their batteries and to facilitate the landing of the infantry who were embarked on board the boats. The firing lasted till after eight, when upon a signal made, the boats put off, and landed under cover of the vessels, the military being greatly assisted by the conduct and gallant behaviour of Captain Watson. They soon put the enemy to flight, and took possession of all the outer town. There still remained the inner town and the Castle. In order to attack them both at once, three mortars were planted at the distance of about seven hundred yards from the Castle and five hundred from the inner town. About six in the morning the mortars began to play very briskly and continued to do so till two the next morning. The cannonading and bombardment put the besieged into such a consternation that they never returned one gun." Negotiations were now entered upon between Mia Atchund and the English for the surrender of the town, and it was agreed upon that Faris Khan, whom the English wished to make Governor, should be appointed Deputy Governor, Mia Atchund should continue as Governor, and the English should have the Castle and be paid the Tanka or annual subsidy for the protection of the fleet. As soon as these articles were executed, Atchund immediately opened the inner town gate, and ordered a party of men to assist in bringing the Sidhi to terms, who on hearing of the union that had taken place became convinced that it was impossible for him to hold out against their combined force and the general voice of the people. After considerable negotiation, it was at last granted that the Sidhi's people should have liberty to march out with their arms and accoutrements, and also be permitted to take away all their valuable effects and even the common furniture of their houses. This was done with the greatest

regularity, and the English were peaceably put in possession of the Castle and Tanka

" The number of killed and wounded did not amount to a hundred Europeans, but the loss by desertion was greater. Thus was accomplished a revolution of general benefit : peace and good government was restored to the city, and the English acquired a valuable and most necessary possession, to the universal satisfaction of the inhabitants, and also with the concur- rence of the people in power." From the capture of the Castle dates the supremacy of the English in Surat. There was a Native Governor, but " the English give law to all others," wrote Stavorinus, Rear Admiral in the service of the States General, " and neither Europeans nor Indians can do anything without their special approbation. The Governor of the city, or Nabob, does not, in this respect, differ from the lowest inhabitant, he must obey their com- mands although they show him externally some kindness, and he will not, in public, allow that he is subservient to them."

From the time that the English became masters of Surat dates the decline of the power of the countrymen of Stavorinus. In 1759 the Dutch were the most powerful of the European set-

INTRODUCTION. xxxj

tiers in Surat, but three years afterwards we read — "The Nabob blocked up the Dutch in their Factory and Bunder, having for some time past received several insults from them, particu. larly in two instances within these few days, viz. their beating and otherwise maltreating some workmen and Seepoys employed by his orders in stoppings window (by building a wall up close to it) they had lately knocked out and which proves a nuisance to Sewram Bushie Desay of Sundivie, concerning which Mynheer Kelly had applied to the Chief some days before, who s.-nt to the Desay and endeavoured all in his power to settle the dispute amicably, but the Desay returned for answer that he was determined never to return to his house again till that window was stopped up ; also their forcing from his Seepoys a Gentoo woman whom he had ordered to be apprehended for causing her mother's body to be burnt, notwithstanding she had professed herself a Mahometan for nigh seven years and keeping both her and the Seepoys in their Fac- tory." (Vol. I. p. 341). The Dutch appealed to the English to mediate between them and the Nabob and they consented, but their mediation was a very hollow affair. The unfortunate Dutch were starved into submission and compelled to send away their cannon (Vol. I. p. 364), pay a fine of £9000, and move their head-quarters from the old factory within the city to the wharf known to the present day as the Dutch Wharf. Castor Niebuhr, the famous geographer, who about this time visited Surat, writes — " Of foreign nations, the Dutch have next, after the English, the most con- siderable establishment at Surat. They have here a director, several merchants, a number of writers and servants, and a few soldiers. Their trade has, however, declined till it has become trifling. The affairs of this nation in India seem to be rather in disorder since the English obtained possession of the citadel." In 1776-1777 the establishment of the Dutch at Surat consisted of thirty persons in the Civil Service of the Company, one clergyman, two surgeons, four mariners and twenty-five sowars, in all sixty-two Europeans." The Dutch Director used in former days to live in great pomp. He had for daily use services of gold and silver and a large number of horses, one or two elephants, chariots of ceremony, and palanquins of gold and silver were kept at the charge of the Company. " But this is now all set aside," wrote Stavorinus, " and the ornaments of gold and silver, the service of silver plate &c, to the value of thirty thousand rupees were all carried on board of my ship to Batavia, and very little or no appearance of pomp is at present kept up in Surat." Two years after Stavorinus visited the city a correspondence was intercepted which showed that the Chief of the Dutch factory had engaged in a plot to assist the Marathas to surprise the Castle, and measures were taken to prevent him from doing any mischief. In the following year the President at Surat received the following order from Bombay — A war having taken place between Great Britain and Holland, and the Hon1jLe the Company having sent out orders to their several Presidencies to act offensively against the Dutch settlements in India, we hereby direct that you forthwith take the necessary measures for dispossessing the Dutch of their factory in the city of Surat, and that you take possession thereof for the Hon^l! Company, making prisoners of war of all Dutch servants,civil and military, belonging thereto." (Vol. I. p. 442.) The Dutch factory was seized and the Dutch factors made prisoners. The Dutch President and Council warmly protested against the proceedings of the English (Vol. I. p. 404) and pointed out that Surat was a Moghul city and " the Moghul colours the Noble English Company hoists since they took possession of the Mogul Castle till this very day in that Castle." The English replied that if the Dutch considered Surat a neutral city they ought to have protested against the seizure of the French factors " as it would certainly have been their duty to do everything in their power to preserve the neutrality from violation, and therefore their neglecting to protest on that occasion was a tacit acknowledgment that Surat was not a neutral city, and we may justly con«

XXXli INTRODUCTION.

elude therefrom that they wished either to consider the neutrality as expired, or at least to let it remain in an equivocal state, in order that they might avail themselves thereof in case of a favourable opportunity of acting hostilely against Surat as they attempted to do against Bengal in the year 1759." (Vol. I. p. 446.)

Like the Dutch the French had a factory at Surat and like the Dutch the influence and prosperity of their factory began to decline when the English became masters of Surat Castle -and the virtual rulers of the town. In 1777 the French Director made the modest request that they should be allowed to land at the French Garden outside of the city walls twenty -four pieces of cannon and three or four thousand balls, but the English refused it. The Nawab also complained that the French used a flight of steps at these gardens for the purpose of smuggling, and the President desired that the Nawab would " take proper measure for the staircase being pulled down." It was destroyed much to the indignation of M. Anquetil DeBriancourt, the French Consul, who declared that the staircase had " been destroyed and broke in a thousand pieces contrary to the right of mankind." Next year a greater misfortune happened to Anquetil DeBriancourt than the destruction of the staircase, for on the 2nd November 1787 the following order reached the Surat Board — " Judging it highly improper in the present state of open hostility with France that the factory of that nation should be permitted to continue at Surat, we direct that you take proper measures, with the necessary secrecy, to arrest the persons of the French Con- sul and all other Frenchmen in that city and send them down to Bombay, where we shall allott a proper place for their residence." (Vol. I. p. 416). The order was carried into execution though M. Anquetil declared that in case of war he had received " an order to assert the neutrality that has always been respected and observed at Surat." The French Consul, however, was not always strictly accurate in his statements. He asked the Surat authorities what was the necessity of seizing the papers belonging to a certain M. Charleval. " He is a French gentle- man who practises in engineering and travels for his private instruction. He is with me as a passenger, and intended to return to France when his family recalls him ; therefore his writings and papers have nothing at all to do with this Consulate" (Vol. I. p. 420). M. Anquetil also requested that a certain M. LeRoy should not be sent to Bombay and separated from him, " He is an old man who kept me company these 5 years past and whom we love and esteem much." The Consul's requests were not complied with, for in the record of a Consultation held on the 13th November 1778 we have the following — "With respect to his request to have M L LeRoy continue with him, the Board canot by any means comply therewith, as it is notorious that M.JL LeRoy is here in the capacity of a spy who M L Anquetil sends to different parts of the country, Poonah, Demaun, and even Pondicherry. As to Mil Charleval, so far from his being a gentleman travelling solely for his own amusement and improvement, it appears from his papers that he is an engineer, and that Me, Anquetil has taken advantage of his knowledge to employ him as a spy, as amongst his papers was found a sketch of a plan of Surat Castle." Among M. Anquetil's papers was found a correspondence in his own handwriting which he had been conducting with M. De St. Lubin, whose presence at Poona was at the time a grave menace to the safety of our power in the East. In a letter dated Surat 30th September 1778 M. Anquetil wrote as follows — " MonsL Anquetil presents his compliments to MonsL le Chevalier de St. Lubin, and begs he will give from him the following information to Nana Furnese & Succaram Bapoo, The inten* tion of the English is to fall upon Bassien if the French Squadron does not appear in a month or two &™. To prevent this stroke it is necessary that Nana Furnese and Succaram Bapoo

INTRODUCTION. XXXlii

throw more forces into this place, tin- attack of which is resolved on at Bombay, and which the English will certainly take, if the Ministry of Poonah does not make use of the promt infor- mation." (Vol. I. p. 426). M. Anqnctil was removed to Bombay and the French factory at Surat ceased to exist.

After the English hecainc masters of Surat the prosperity of the town quickly increased and the trade developed owing to the abolition of numerous petty imposts. I'nder the Mqgjhri Government every cart of grain which entered the town had to pay from 10 to 15 rupees and every cart of firewood from | to 1 rupee. In addition to this, monthly and annual presents had to he made to the Castle. (Vol. I. p. 114). The passage boat farmers paid a tax of 22£ Ks. per month. carpenters and bricklayers also paid a small sum in order not to be obliged to bear a share of the gratis work. The woodcutters were obliged to split the Castle firewood, which in time beWBM a great oppression, and attempted in vain to escape it by paying a tax. All fish, whether fresh or dry, that came into town paid some small perquisite, and milksellers, betel shop- keepers, grain brokers, all had to satisfy the aemands of the Castle authorities. The general statement of the Revenue of the Castle of Surat is an instructive document because it keeps in remembrance the ills now so liable to be forgotten which men suffered under native rule. The next twenty years of English in rule in Surat were years of considerable prosperity. Forbes, who visited the city in 1771, declares that the riches and splendour of Surat reminded him of the description of Tyre by the Prophets. " The bazars were filled with costly merchandise and with picturesque and interesting groups of natives on elephants, camels, horses and mules from all parts of the globe in their respective costume, Turks, Persians and Armenians on Arabian chargers, European ladies in splendid carriages, Asiatic females in hackeries drawn by oxen crowded the streets." Vessels were building on the stocks and the river was covered with ships of different nations. In the next ten years a great change took place in Surat — " Neither Hindoo nor Mahomedan pageantry now enlivened the public streets, and the war which had so long raged in Europe and India affected the Asiatic commerce in general, but was most sensibly felt at Surat. Her dock-yards, store-houses, and bazaars indicated little of that life and spirit formerly likened to the glowing picture of ancient Tyre ; all was now comparatively silent and forsaken. The usual calamities of war had been heightened by the dreadful storm which happened a year before on the western shores of India. The effects of its ravages at Baroche have been mentioned; at Surat it was still m>-.e tremendous. The tottering mansions of the Moguls, long out of repair, the slighter Hindoo houses, and the mud- built cottages of the lower classes, alike gave way, and buried many of their inhabitants in the ruins. Extensive parts of the outer walls and towers of the fortifications, long in a dilapidated state, fell down; and the whole city exhibited a scene of desolation. In the surrounding country, whole villages, with the peasantry and cattle, were swept away. Every ship at the bar, with yachts, boats, and vessels of all descriptions in the river, either foundered at their anchors, or were driven on shore. Three ships richly laden, belonging to a Turkish merchant, were entirely lost ; their cargoes exceeded five lacs of rupees. The " Revenge," the finest cruizer on the Bombay station, foundered and every soul perished, together with the "Terrible." " Dolphin," and several of the smaller armed vessels. The ravages of this storm extended along the coast for upwards of six hundred miles on the west side of India ; but it was felt most about the latitude of Surat and Baroche, and added no trifling effect to the sombre appearance of this once animated emporium." The President at Surat forwarded to the Government of Bombay a vivid description of the destruction caused to the town and neighbourhood by the hurricane

b 1255—9 int

XXXIV INTRODUCTION.

(Vol. I. p. 274), and he prayed that the inhabitants should be granted a remission of the rent they owed the State. " The scenes of distress that are around us call for every aid of pity and commisseration, and I hope to that only you will attribute my present intercession." His prayer was granted. The double Government which existed in Surat was attended with many inconveniences. The English were supreme, but as long as a Nabob existed they could not interfere to a sufficient extent in the details of administration. In 1799, when the Nawab Nizam Odeen died, the Government were compelled to interfere in the appointment of a suc- cessor in order to put an end to the exactions, oppressions and corrupt administration of the Nawab's Durbar. On the 13th May 1800 a treaty was concluded with the new Nawab by which " the management and collection of the revenues of the city of Surat, and of the territories, places, and other dependencies thereof, the administration of civil and criminal justice, and generally the entire government of the said city and its dependencies, shall be vested for ever wholly and exclu- sively in the Hon'^f English Company." (Vol. I. p. 448). The Chiefship and Council were abolished and a Lieutenant Governor of the Castle was appointed. The administration was entrusted to a Judge who was also Magistrate, and a Collector of Revenue and a Collector of Customs. Three years later the title of Lieutenant-Governor was changed into " Agent of Government at Surat." Surat from being the seat of power and government had become a mere district of Bombay.

After the resignation of Sir Nicholas Waite Mr. William Aislabie became Governor of Bombay. During his tenure of office the foundation stone of the Cathedral was laid (18th November 1715). The previous year Richard Cobbe had been sent as Chaplain to the island and he found that services were held in a room in the fort. In a sermon preached on the first Sunday after Trinity he impressed on his congregation the necessity of a suitable church. " Well, Doctor," said the Governor after the services, " you have been very zealous for the church this morning." " Please y_I honour," he replied, "I think there was occasion enough for it and I hope without offence." " Well, then," said the Governor, " if we must have a Church, we must have a Church. Do you see and get a book made and see what every one will contribute towards it, and I will do first." Charles Boone, who was afterwards Governor, gave Rs. 3,918 and Mr. Cobbe Rs. 1,427. Cornelius Sodington gave " For my wife when I have her R£ 20," and Mr. Richard Waters Rs. 11 paid him for doing the service in absence of the chaplain. " A fine upon Bhundaries contributed RJL 18," and " A commutation from penance corporal at Surat was Ri 150." The total amounted to more than fifty -three thousand rupees.

Aislabie, with whose rule the title of General ceased, left Bombay in 1715, and for a year Stephen Street, the Deputy Governor, discharged the duties of the office when Charles Boone was appointed. He was the first styled " President and Governor in Councill." Shortly after he assumed office the Court of Directors ordered that the ground rent within the city should be improved by instituting quit-rents or by letting leases renewable on the payment of fines. " The consideration of our prodigious change," they stated, " and the peoples protection and liberty, are very cogent arguments, if rightly managed, to convince every one why that ground ought to be valued higher than it otherwise would." In 1718 the Company resigned their feudal claims upon the landholders of the island for military service, on condition that a tax should be imposed upon all who resided within the town walls. On Christmas Day of the same year the Cathedral was consecrated. The Governor went in pro- cession and was met at the entrance by the Chaplain in his canonical dress. During the service a child was baptized : the Governor, Mrs. Parker, the Deputy Governor's wife, and Mrs. Crommelin

INTRODUCTION. XXXV

"standing gossips". When the service was concluded, the Governor, his Council and the lidBei repaired to the vestry, where they drank success to the new enured in a glass of sack. The festivities in honour of the consecration of the Cathedra] muti have bees <>n ■ somewhat

extensive scale, for we read — "The Steward delivers in an accoA of his extraordinary expense for Christinas and New Years days amounting to Ri. one thousand one- hundred flj seventy and eighty-five reas, which is examined and approved." Much of the time of the Council was occupied in investigating charges brought against Mr. Parker, the Deputy Governor, by the President ; and he was unanimously condemned hy them for erasing the signature which he had attached to a Minute, and they would have suspended him, hut Mr. Hraddyll, member of Council, dissented, because, although Parker had committed an error, his intentions appeared to be pure. On the 13th May 1720 it was proposed that the Portugals be removed from the island owing to their "stirring up the Roman Catholics to sedition, especially when we have anv dispute with the Portuguese," and it was proposed supplying their place with "an Italian Bishop & some priests of the Carmelite Order now on the Island, on their swearing allegiance to his Majesty King George & that they will not directly or indirectly teach, preach, or practice any thing contrary to the interest or dignity of the Crown, or prerogative of the RV Hon1'1" Comi, and that they will in all respects pay a due obedience to the GoverHL and Council for the time being." Three days afterwards the Italian Bishop and the Carmelite priests took the following oath before the President — " I, Don Frey Mauritio of Sancta Teresa, Bishop of Anastatiopolis, Vicar General on the Empire of the Great Mogull, of the Island of Bombay and the jurisdiction thereof, do swear upon the Holy Evangelists (in which I have placed my right hand) to obey his most serene Majesty of Great Brittain, and that I will never, directly or indirectly, teach, preach, or practice anything contrary to the honour and dignity of the Crown of his said most serene Majesty, or to the interest of the Right Hon^f the English Company and you. I will pay all obedience to the orders of the Hon1*: the Govr_ for the time being and exercise the Roman Catholic religion according to its primitive institution without any alter- ation" (Vol. II. p. 12.)*

Since the time of Pope Gregory XV and the establishment of the ' Sacred Congregation of the Faith' in 1622, it has been decreed by the Popes to send missionaries direct to India. These missionaries were to be subject to Bishops, who under the title of ' Vicars Apostolic ' were placed immediately under the authority of the above men- tioned Congregation in Rome, usually called the ' Propaganda '.

Among the first of these Vicars Apostolic were missionaries of the Carmelite order, and to them the Popv assigned tho care of the Indo- Syrian Christians on the Malabar Coast aud of the Catholics in the dominions of the Great Mogul.

Peter Paul a S. Francisco, nephew of Pope Innocent XI and son of a duke of Palma in Italy, was appointed in 1690 to the office of Vicar Apostolic in the dominions of tho Groat Mogul, whore since 1580 Jesuit missiona from Goa had been engaged in the sacred ministry. In 1699 he went to Surat and died there tho next year in tin- monastery of the Capuchins.

Peter de Alcantara a P. Theresia was his successor and died in 1707.

Mauritius a S. Theresia followed him. Ho was consecrated Bishop and nominated to tho office of Vicar Apos tolic in the dominions of the Great Mogul on 12th May 1708. In coming to Bombay at the invitation of the English in 1720, he and his successors had the approval of the Pope, as Pius VI declared in an apostolic letter (1798) to Fr. Manoel de S. Catharine, Archbishop of Goa, Pope Pius VI wrote : " Ab anno 1718 cum inde (ab insula Bom- baina) Angli Lusitanos omnes presbyteros, Jcsuitas primum, deindo Franciscanos, postremo vero ipsos Metropolitan! vicarios, ejecissent, miser ille catholicorum grex, cum ducem et pastorem nullum haberent in via salutis aeternse, ad banc universalis pastoris cathedram manus tetendit, aliqnem efflagitans, qui panem evangciicum sibi frangerct,

XXXVI INTRODUCTION.

The conduct not only of the Portuguese priests but of their own zealous chaplain, Mr. Cobbe, was a source of anxiety to the Bombay Government. Mr. Braddyll, Member of Council, complained that Mr. Cobbe had " affronted him at the Communion Table when he was going to receive the Holy Sacrament, & he had likewise affronted him publicly several times be- fore." From Mr. Braddyll's letter (Vol. II. p. 21) it can be gathered that Mr. Cobbe had frequently complained about his employing workmen on Sunday, " to which (to the best of my remem- brance I never made any other answer,) tho' his violent passion & heat in which he expresses himself might have required it more than that I was sorry it should so fall out, & that necessity obliged me to it, for if the rain season should commence before I had covered my house, it would inevitably be washed down, & that I hoped be could not think I did amiss in securing it by so timely prevention. However, all I could urge in my behalf only served to strengthen his zeal, & at last he was pleased to burst out & say he did not care if my house & all the houses in town were washed away, provided no work was done on Sundays. Some days after this discourse happened, I undesignedly fell into his company at MJL Wyches, where he took occasion to tell me he could be glad to see I got my money honestly, for I wrought on Sundays." (Vol. II. p. 21). Shortly afterwards they met at the house of a common friend when the Member of Council having expressed an opinion regarding the satisfaction of getting money — " Yes," the Chaplain remarked, " there is a satisfaction in it I don't doubt, especially if it be gotten honestly." "Why, Doctor, don't you think then that I get my money honestly ? " replied Mr. Braddyll. " Yes," said the Chaplain, " but not by working Sundays ". The Member of Council rose and withdrew. Shortly afterwards, however, he intimated to a friend that he was ready to forgive the Chaplain. " He forgive me," said Mr. Cobbe, " I shant forgive him till he has done working a Sundays." Then took place the following occurrence — " After the congregation of which I happened to be one had placed themselves at the altar in a posture for receiving the Communion, Mr_ Cobbe having consecrat- ed the elements turned himself towards me & spoke with a loud voice & said ' Ml Braddyll ' ; to which I made no answer, thinking him to be out of his senses, but he repeated it- a second time & said 'Ml. Braddyll, have you done working on Sundays, unless y.i, I cannot administer you this Sacrament.' To the best of my remembrance I told him I had. He went still further & said he would not give me communion unless I would promise him & the congregation then present that I would work no more on Sundays. I told him I would not unless necessity obliged me, upon which he condescended to treat me like yjL rest of the community." (P. 22). The Board demanded an explanation of his conduct from the Chaplain, and he replied " that he was

ac tunc, ipsis non abnuentibus Anglis. ab hac apostolica sede impertita est facultas vicariis apostolicis in Imperio Mogal degentitras, ut catholicos in Insula Bombaina pascerent, donee, dissidiis ibidem inter Anglos Lusitanosque compositis Archiepiscopo Goano pristina sua jura exercendi facultas fieret." (Bullarium Pontificium S. Congr. de Propaganda Fide, t. IV, p. 255. Ronise, 1841). In 1723 a coadjutor was appointed for him in the person of another Carmelite, Innocentius a S. Leopoldo, a Hungarian count, and brother of the Archbishop of Vienna and a missionary who for many years had distinguished himself in Bombay and on the Malabar Coast. He was consecrated in 1723, and survived Bishop Mauritius a S. Theresa, who died in Surat and was buried there in 1722.

Since then a long series of Carmelite Bishops held the same office for Bombay where they resided. The last Carmelite Vicar Apostolic of Bombay was Dr. Whelan, who died in 1854. He was succeeded by three Jesuit Vicars Apostolic, Drs. Canoz, Stein, and Meurin, the last of whom was recalled to Rome in 18^0, and with the establishment of the regular hierarchy in India in 1887 Dr, Porter, S.J„ was created by Leo XIII Archbishop of the newly established Archdiocese of Bombay.

INTRODUCTION. XXIV1I

sorry to find that a person in Ml Braddylls station should, instead of being ashamed, make it a matter of complaint for a reproof of a sin so exceeding sinfull, but is God Almighty less in India than he is in England ? Or has he given any man license to sin ? Is the violation of this holy day become the less enormous, because it is so frequently and irreligiously profaned, or must it out of good manners he past by unobserved, connived and winked at, especially when it comes from so eminent a quarter." The Board came to the conclusion "that the 2* Rubriek " from which the Chaplain based his defence did not apply to the case, as it referred only to "an open and notorious evil liver," and they " ordered Mi. Richard Cobbe to ask Mr. Braddyll pardon publickly in the church on Sunday morning next immediately after in the following words — " Whereas on Sunday the 3ril instant, through mistake, I did affront Mr Braddyll at the communion table, I do hereby notify to this congregation here present, that on more mature consideration I find myself to be in the wrong, and do hereby beg Ml Braddylls pardon for the injury done him and the offence given him to the other communicants." (Vol. II. p. 25). Mr. Cobbe refused compliance with the Council's order for two reasons : firstly, because according to the rubric after the Nicene Creed nothing is to be proclaimed during the time of Divine service "but what is prescribed in the rules of the Book of Common Prayer or enjoined by the Que.-n or by the ordinary of the place "; and secondly, because such compliance " would not only give encouragement to them by lessening too much the credit of reproof, but inevitably draw con- tempt upon the clergy and wound even religion through the sides of the ministry." He con- cluded the letter with these words — " For this therefore I hope, gentlemen, you will pardon your servant in that I cannot, I dare not, yield my assent without declining that duty, without betraying that trust for which I am accountable to a more and full tribunal." (Vol. II. p. i".1)- Mr. Cobbe, however, offered to give Mr. Braddyll any satisfaction he could except what the Board had ordered. But the Board refused to listen to any compromise, and proceeded to review his past conduct. Notice was taken of a sermon that he had preached at the members of the Govern- ment from the text, ' Tho' hand joyn in hand,yet the wicked shall not go unpunished,' and the Board declared that it was "but too notorious and usual with him to draw odious characters in the sermons and apply them to such persons with whom he has any difference." " In order, therefore, to secure this Government against the evils which such seditions, sermons, and dis- cord may possibly have on the minds of some people especially at this time of actual warr with one enemy and an apprehension of a rupture with our neighbours the Portuguese, when there is all the need imaginable of union & firm resolution, it was resolved that lt£ Richard Cobbe, Chaplain, be suspended from the Right HonbJf Companys service and from officiating as their chaplain, receiving a further salary or other allowances of the Right llon1^ Company from this day." The Board also ordered "that Ml Thomas Waters reading well he officiate in reading prayers and sermons instead of Ml Cobbe and allowed the usual salary for the same." The usual salary for the Minister at that time was £50 and another £50 a gratuity if found deserving. The Governor's salary was £300 per annum ; the Deputy Governor, who was also Accountant, received £100, and Lawrence Parker received another hundred pounds as Chief Justice; the third in Council got £70; the fourth and fifth £50 each; the sixth, seventh and eighth, each £40. A physician and two surgeons received £36 each. (Vol. II. p. 22). The salaries seem small in the present day, but it must be borne in mind that all the servants of the Company were engaged in trade on their own account. The Government also remunerated their servants for special service. In the year 1720, having received Rs. 9,05,000 by the payment of some debts which had been long due to the factory at Surat, they ordered that five per cent should be pre-

b 1255— 10 int

XXXV111 INTRODUCTION.

seated to the Governor and two per cent be divided amongst the Members of Council. Governor Boone's share amounted to more than forty thousand rupees, and that of each Member of Council to more than two thousand.

Charles Boone was succeeded by William Phipps. To him Angria sent a letter of " con- gratulation, but the Governor pointed out to him that he was rather late in doing so as two years had lapsed since he had begun to govern in these parts for the powerful English nation." The Governor then proceeded to give him some moral advice regarding the drawbacks of war and the advantages of peace and trade. " It is observed that greatness pursued after and obtained by these means is of short duration, whereas a State improving and flourishing through trade is of a much longer continuance, and never decays but through corrupt Councils. Had your Honor in the begining of your rise in the world (with which I am well acquainted) cultivated in your territories a correspondence that is peculiarly necessary for merchants, and employed that power Providence has by degrees blessed you with, to protect trade, instead of quite the contrary practice you have made use of, the territories your Honor now governs might by this time have been equal in some measure to vie with the Great Port of Surat, your Honors power esteemed to be raised on justice, and yourself become revered from your virtues, whereas now your HonI is more terrible to your friends than enemies." (Vol. II. p. 38). The Pirate King sent a reply not wanting in sarcasm nor dignity. He told the Governor that his experience of the English had taught him that " as touching the desire of possessing what is anothers I do not even find the merchants exempt from this sort of ambition, for this is the way of the world, for God gives nothing immediately from himself to any, but takes from one to give to another. Whether this is right or no who is able to determine." He also added — " Your Excellency is pleased to say if I had any regard to the weal of the people and favoured the commerce, my power would be much augmented, and my port become like that of Surat; but I never have been wanting to favour the merchants trading according to the laws of this country, nor of chastizing those transgressing the same, as your Excellency well knows. The increase of power depends on the Divine will, in which human diligence little availeth. Until this day I have kept up the power that was necessary ; whether I shall continue it or no for the future who can tell, but that will be as God is pleased to determine. Your Excellency was pleased to write that war proves most fatal to those whom the use of the sword is not under- stood, but in the Government of His Excellency Charles Boone, nobody can say there was not loss on both sides, for victories depend on the hand of God, and for this reason great men take little notice of such losses. Your Excellency is pleased to write that he who follows war purely thro' an inclination that one hath thereto, one time or another will find cause to repent, of which I sup- pose your Excellency hath found proof, for we are not always victorious nor always unfortunate." (Vol. II. p. 40-41).

Two years after William Phipps became Governor, letters patent were issued establishing a new Court in Bombay. Up to this time justice had been administered in the island by a Civilian styled Chief Justice, and in important cases by the President and Council, who were the only Justices of Peace for the city. But neither the Chief Justice nor the President and Council had any opportunity of knowing law, as the Court of Directors admitted that " from want of thorough knowledge of our laws slips in the execution of them had sometimes been made by His Majesty Justices of the Peace." To remedy this the natural step would have been to have appointed trained lawyers to the new tribunal, but the Court of Directors knew that the men with legal training that had been sent to Bombay in the early days had taken with them

INTRODUCTION. XXXIX

(li< traditional independence of English Courts and had been staunch opponents to the arhitrary acts of the Company. The Court had therefore used its influence with the Orownlo have no lawyers in the new Court. By the letters patent it was decreed that it should consist of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, eight of whom including the Mayor were required to be naturalised subjects of the British Crown, hut the other two might be subjects of a friendly nation. The Aldermen were selected from the principal inhabitants of the place and they chose one from among their number to be Mayor. The latter office was annual, but the former was for lit Government, however, had the power to suspend for grave misconduct. An appeal to the Pre- sident in Council lay in all suits and in civil suits involving a certain amount to His Majesty's Privy Council. On the 18th of February 1728 the new Charter was read at the new pier to a large concourse of Europeans and leading natives. The President and Council, Sheriff, Mayor and Aldermen then took the oaths of allegiance and the President made a speed) pointing out the value of the new privileges.* Neither the Government nor the public seem to have set much value on these privileges, for they treated the new Court with scant courtesy. We find " the Mayor acquainting the Bench that he had lately been informed several ill-disposed persons had given themselves great license in discoursing of the Court, even in such a manner that they did not only turn into jest and ridicule the form of their proceedings, but had the great presumption openly to arraign both the justice and judgment of it in a very extraordinary manner, and as he doubts not but every member will show a just resentment to this usage at not only them- selves but every one bearing office in inferior degree about the Court ought to be preserved from all the unjust reflections of the vulgar which if continued will tend to the diminution of the Courts authority and consequently be a great impediment to the justice of it, and therefore propose to the gentlemen that they will allow of his representing the matter to his Honour the President that he may apply such remedies as he thinks proper for suppressing their licen- tious discourse in future, which is unanimously agreed to." On the 23rd of April 1728, Captain Rich, said to be the author of a scandalous and malicious libel against the Court and private characters of the members, made his submission, and was absolved after he had appeared at the bar and asked for pardon on his knees.

Considering that the only knowledge of law which the Court possessed was derived from a manuscript book of instructions sent them by the Court of Directors, it is not surprising that the public arraigned both its justice and judgment. The justice dealt in these days was severe. We read that "on the ls4 of February 1726-1727 the Hon^L6 the Governor & Council having recommitted the punishing of Ignatio De Livere duely convicted of a robbery & an attempt to murder to the Justices of this Bench, after due consideration his tryal being read, it is ordered that he receive thirty-nine lashes three several Court days, being tyed to the gallows with a halter about his neck, with a paper over his head denoting his crime, & after condem d to hai-d labour during pleasure, being first marked with an iron in the cheek as a public testimony of the notoriety of his offence." (Ap. E). Joana, a Christian woman, for having returned to the island after being expelled with her husband " without any crime of hers specified save conniving at her husbands practices, the Court are willing for this time to favour her and only give her a small chastisement, fifteen lashes, but upon this condition that she return no more : and if she do, then to suffer the full penalty ordered by the Government to lose one ear & upon

*\~ote. — After considerable search the Consultation Book containing an account of the day's proceedings «H found, but the pages of the book have crumbled through damp into so many pieces, that it is impossible to reproduce them.

B 1255—11 +-

XI INTRODUCTION.

repeating the crime both : the punishment for all women of ill-fame for returning after legal expulsion from the Island." (Ap. E). A certain woman called Gungay was indicted for petit treason in aiding and abetting in the murder of her husband, and the jury having found her guilty she was sentenced to be burnt. (Ap. E).

The revenues of the island were at this time small, and to increase them all the ground along the Back Bay was made over to five persons to plant with cocoanuts ; and the whole of Malabar Hill was let on a lease at a yearly rent of one hundred rupees. In 1728 Robert Cowan succeeded William Phipps, and he ordered that all persons who did not within six months produce an authentic lease should be dispossessed of their houses. It was also agreed by the Board " that the Secretary in framing such leases grant a term of 41 years, renewable on the partys paying a fine of half a years rent of the said house or tenement, according as the same shall be valued by the Second in Council and the Collector of the Revenues for the time being & the possessor." After holding office for a short time Governor Cowan was dismissed for having permitted the Portuguese ship ' Europa ' to sell her cargo at Bombay and for having a pecuniary interest in the matter. In his defence he states — " I do hereby solemnly declare and swear on the Holy Evangelists, so help me God, that I was not ever interested or concerned, directly or indirectly, originally or latterly, in any respect whatever, nor was I any ways profited or gainer by the said ship ' Europas ' voyage, or by her touching at this port, otherwise than by a present of six hams, eight dozen of French Oporto wine and a pound of snuff made me by the Commander of the said ship on his first arrival, and the usual perquisite allowed the President of one per cent, on the silver belonging to the said ship' Europa ' coined in the Hon^Le Companys Mint." (Vol. II. p. 63.)

His successor was John Home, to whom the merchants and other principal inhabitants of Bombay presented a petition against having to pay the ground-rents & quit-rent which the Court of Directors had ordered to be levied. They represented that the order was contrary to the conven- tion made with Governor Aungier. " Your petitioners also beg leave to represent to your Honour &5? that in the first agreement between the Hon^5 Company and the inhabitants of this Island it was stipulated that in consideration of the annual payment of twenty thousand Xeraphins (which Pension is now collected) the land that had been taken from any of the inhabitants should be restored and their estates ascertained, when your petitioners conceive it was intended they should not be subject to further taxes on estates, notwithstanding which they now pay quit-rent for all houses built on their own ground, also that when they made a voluntary gift of thirty thousand rupees (besides the two per cent) towards building the Town Wall, they humbly hoped they should not be liable to any further charge for such ground belonging to the Hon^f Company as they might obtain liberty to build upon, though they are now obliged to pay the heavy duties on both grounds and quit-rent." (Vol. II. p. 65).

In the year 1739 the Bombay Government sent an expedition against Angria, and Commodore Bagwell gives an account of the engagement with his fleet, and the Commander of the " Harrington" supplies a quaint graphic description of the battle. He writes — " As soon as I see the three grabs bear down to our fleet that was to leeward of me, I bore down after them and chased them without gunshot of our ships and then haull up in order to meet the three Admirals, who began to fire att a great distance before their shot could reach us. I could not fire in vain, and waited till they were come within short gunshot of us, and then returned their compliments in quickest and best manner they deserved. I was engaged with the three

INTRODUCTION. xli

best grabs about one hour and a half and then the three leeward grabs came up and joined the other three grabs ; and then the ' Harrington ' had all six on her broadside, and gave them Hiich welcome they did not like. About ten the three grabs and one of their Admirals found it so warm that they drew off. The high Admiral and his second continued abreast of us till twelve, and received several broadsides of double round and cartridge as fast as the 'Harrington.'

could give it them, and then made signals for his gallivats to come and to off to

windward, where I could not follow him, and soon got out of gunshot. They drew n j > in a line and held a consultation. I then lay and consulted what powder remained for the third engage- ment, and found I had only seven round of powder left. I went OB board on Captain Sutton and borrowed two barrels. The other two ships had none to spare : they said they had but two barrels each." (Vol. II. p. 75.)

Three years after this engagement the Government made some considerable reductions in the strength of their army and navy. The reduced marine establishment consisted of a superintendent, eight commanders, one of whom was styled Commodore, three first lieutenants, four second lieutenants, four third officers, and six masters of gallivats. The salary of the superintendent was two hundred and twenty pounds per annum, a handsome salary in those days, and only fifty pounds less than the emoluments of the Governor. There was, however, a vast difference between the salary of the Superintendent and that of the other officers of the Marine. A commander drew from sixty to eighty rupees per mensem; a first lieutenant from thirty- two to forty ; a second lieutenant twenty-four ; a midshipman twelve ; a surgeon from thirty- one to forty ; a gunner or boatswain twenty-two ; a carpenter twenty-six ; an able seaman nine, and a Lascar five. The ships which ranked first were " the fighting vessels " and two grabs called the " Restoration " and " Neptune's Prize " were first in this class. The former was manned by eighty Europeans of all ranks and fifty-one lascars, the latter by fifty Europeans and thirty-one lascars. On each of the privateers there were usually thirty Europeans and twenty lascars, but these numbers were now diminished. The result of the false economy was quickly and grievously felt. Merchantmen daily fell a prey to the pirates who infested the coast. The merchants of Bombay petitioned the Government that unless more cruisers were provided the trade of the city would be ruined. In consequence of the risks which ships now ran the bankers would not advance money on the security of the cargo. They brought to the notice of the Government the fact that though the stormy season had p not a boat had

been equipped for the transport of merchandise. They urgently requested a small increase of the Company's marine. A striking event which occurred in 1747 also demonstrated the necessity of the Company having sufficient ships to guard its coast. War had been declared between England and France, and one morning the inhabitants of Bombay were startled and terrified by seeing two French privateers at anchor between Colaba and Malabar Point. The two French vessels were the " Appolo " of fifty guns and the " Anglesea " of forty, and t he Bombay Government had no ship capable of fighting them. Grabs and fishing boats ■ sent in all directions to warn vessels from approaching the harbour. Next morning at dawn an English ship was seen bearing down upon the French vessels. The grabs did their best to signal to her the danger and stop her course but all in vain. That afternoon the inhabitants of Bombay viewed from Breach Candy an engagemenl between the Ka.-t Indiaman the " Anson" and the French privateer " Apollo." The former was overmatched, but for two hours with ureat gallantry kept up the contest, and it was only after all the sail had been shot away and the

xlii INTRODUCTION.

masts torn to pieces that her flag was struck. During the contest the Home Despatches and eleven chests of treasure were placed in the fishing boats and carried in safety to the shore. The " Anson " inflicted such injuries on her foe that the French privateers were not again seen near Bombay. This contest caused the Honorable Court of Directors to see the necessity of increasing their naval force. The fleet they ordered should now consist of three ships each of which carried twenty guns, from six to twelve pounders ; five ketches carrying from eight to fourteen guns from four to six pounders ; eight gallivats, and one prahim. Two other ships were employed alternately as guard-ships at Gombroon. Bach ship or grab was manned with fifty to seventy Europeans ; each ketch with six to thirty, and gallivats with two or three. The roll of officers was increased by two commanders, one first, six second, and three third lieutenants. In 1761 a petition was presented by the officers of the Marine to the Governor in Council that they should have an uniform, and they were ordered to wear blue frock-coats turned up with yellow, dress-coats and waistcoats of the same colour fashioned after a regular pattern. Large boots, sleeves and facings of gold laces was the regulation for the superior grades ; while midshipmen and masters of gallivats were not allowed the privilege of facings and were permitted to wear only small round cuffs. In all but name the Bombay Marine was now a navy, and by many a deed of valour it proved itself a navy of which any nation might be proud.

A European regiment and a body of native militia was the germ of that army which served to lay the foundation of our Empire in the mango groves of Plassey and to make us masters of India at Assaye. The European regiment consisted of a captain, nine lieutenants, fifteen ensigns, a surgeon, two serjeant-majors, eighty-two Serjeants, eighty -two corporals, twenty-six drummers, and three hundred and nineteen European privates. Attached to the regiment were thirty-one Indo-Europeans, nine hundred topasses, two native paymasters, a linguist and an admiral. The native regiment consisted of seven hundred sepoys including native officers. It possessed neither discipline, uniform, nor arms of one pattern. Swords and targets, bows and arrows, lances or matchlocks were the early weapons of the Bombay army. They were never drilled and seldom mustered. They spent their time in taking messages and running with the carriages and palanquins of the senior merchants. In fact they were peons who were enrolled as soldiers. It was not till 1752 that the names of such sepoys as were in attendance on official persons were struck off the military rolls and their pay charged in the ordinary accounts of the respective offices. The pay of the topasses did not then exceed five rupees a month, and the Court did not think it necessary to increase it, because the natives would not submit to be organized on the European system. The officers were illiterate adventurers. When Captain Inchbird resigned the post of Commandant at Sion the President and Council appointed Lieutenant Stirling, who had behaved well when in command of the troops at Tellicherry, to be his successor. " Stirling," they however remarked, " though a good and trustworthy man, has the misfortune to want that necessary qualification of writing, which might be inconvenient on any emergency when the necessary intimations or orders may require secresy." The President and Council in order to escape the difficulty decided that Lieutenant Stirling was to command and Lieutenant Thomas Andrews was to wield the pen. Inchbird's resignation had caused the command of the Grenadier Company to become vacant. The President required a European butler and he was desirous that he should be paid from the public purse. He had a precedent to guide his course of conduct. During the rule of Presidents

INTRODUCTION. xliii

Phipps and Cowan a certain Mr. Ilollamore had catered for the gubernatorial table, and his service* had been rewarded with an ensign's commission and the command of Ihiteher's I-land. Tin- I sident now proposed that Ilollamore should be restored to his function Bad in Older to compensate him for the loss of the command of Batcher's Island that he should reoerre a lieutenant's commis- sion and the command of the vacant company* Two years after this event the Com{>any were roused to the importance of improving their native army by the commencement of hostilities with France. The French had disciplined their sepoys after the European model and so made them a formidable force and the English felt they must do the same. In 1746 the President and Council raised at Surat a force of two thousand men consisting of Arabs, Abyssinians and Indian Musulmans and Hindus. They also sought for a competent officer to command the garrison. Their choice fell on Goodyre, a major of artillery in the squadron of Admiral Boscawen. He was appointed not only to the command of the forces but was also made Third Member of Council with a salary of £250 per annum and allowances for diet, servants, and palanquin. A local company of artillery was also raised which consisted of four serjeant-bombardiers who drew two shillings a day, four corporal -bombardiers who had one and six-pence each, two drummers, and a hundred gunners who had one shilling per diem. The officers consisted of a second captain with a salary of £150 per annum, a captain -lieutenant and director of the laboratory with £100, a lieutenant fire-worker with £75, a second lieutenant fire-worker with £60, and an ensign or third lieutenant fire-worker with £50. A regiment of European infantry was also raised and placed under the command of a Cap- tain. It consisted of ten companies and each company was commanded by a captain-lieutenant who drew the salary of 5 shillings a day. Attached to each company was an adjutant drawing the same salary as the captain, an ensign drawing four shillings a day, four Serjeants drawing one and eight pence each, four corporals, a drum-major and two drummers. The pay of a private was ten pence. The Company found it difficult to get good men to form their army. Their recruiting agents sent them the aged, the blind, the maimed and the halt. Many of the recruits had passed forty and one who had come to engage in active service had been treated in two English hospitals for dropsy. Despairing of getting good men at home the Court of Directors tried the experi- ment of recruiting men abroad, and in 1752 a Swiss company, commanded by Captain Alexander De Zeigle, arrived at Bombay. The experiment however proved a failure. Many of the men died and others deserted to the French. In August 1753 Major Sir James Foulis, Baronet, was sent out from England to command the Bombay troops and he proved himself an able and zealous reformer. He put a stop to the scandalous favouritism which had prevailed in the matter of promotion, and advanced officers according to seniority, and he persuaded Government to build barracks for them as they were compelled to live in " public houses." He also did his utmost to improve the discipline of the troops and the extension of the Mutiny Act to India caused his efforts to be attended with success. In February 1754 the Bill for introducing the Mutiny Act to India was introduced into the House of Commons and met with considerable opposition. There was a feeling among a small number of able and energetic men that it might in course of time be regarded as a precedent for the Mutiny Act becoming a perpetual instead of an annual enactment in England. It was also argued that the Crown would by the extension of the Act to India to some degree become responsible for the army of the Company and so liable to become involved in disputes with the Native States. These arguments had not much force with the House, for the bill was carried by a large majority and passed the House of Lords without a division. The Act was proclaimed on the 1st of October 1754 at the Fort gate by the Secretary to Government in presence of the

xliv INTRODUCTION.

Governor and Council. The officers and soldiers were asked if they were willing to serve the Company on the terms specified in the new Articles of War, and with three cheers gave their assent. From the reading of the Mutiny Act dates the formation of the Bombay army. Before that time is was an ill-organised militia. Three years after the passing of the Act a company of Bombay sepoys, which had gone with troops from Madras to Bengal, were present at the battle of Plassy. Clive's great victory first revealed the value of our mercenary army if it were properly disciplined and led by European officers, for at Plassey three thousand foot, two thousand of whom were sepoys, defeated Suraj-ud-Dowlah with his forty thousand foot and sixteen thousand horse. Three years after Plassey it was decided by the Bombay Government that a corps of five hundred sepoys should be trained according to the European system, and a separate corps of peons should be organised for attendance on gentlemen at their homes and offices.*

John Home was succeeded by Stephen Law, who on assumingoffice took measures for prevent- ing the town being surprised " whether attempted from open and public force or secret treachery, which last method it is well known the Maharattas are but too prone to, & by means of bribes often successful." It was determined that " the hour for shutting the Town Gates should be fixed, namely, the Apollo & Church at sunset and the Bazar within half an hour after sunset. A large bell to be placed over the Bazar Gate to be rung about a quarter of an hour after sunset and continue ringing a quarter of an hour, when all the inhabitants living within the town are to repair home, and those living without are to go out before the bell has done ringing, and that the signal may be still better heard the Fort and Church bell to ring at the same time. But as at present there is not a bell at each gate, until they are provided a drum may begin beating at the time pre-mentioned and continue the like space." (Vol. II. p. 76). The Binjarras on whom the trade with the interior then mainly depended threatened to leave the port unless they could find protection for themselves and their property within the walls. With regard to them therefore an exception was made, and in course of time the order became a dead letter.

On the 11th September 1742 Bombay was visited by a cyclone which wrought great devastation. The Records state that the gale was so excessive, " as has not been exceeded in the memory of any one now on the spot." Together with the wind, there was rain which poured down in torrents. All the ships in harbour were forced from their anchors. The royal ships ' Somerset ' and ' Salisbury ' running foul of each other were much damaged, and a large vessel belonging to a Mahomedan gentleman was driven ashore. The front house at Mazagon was unroofed by the force of the wind, and a battery called the Drive, the walls of which were of stone, and several small guard-houses were blown down. Three months after the cyclone William Wake arrived from England and assumed the Governorship of the island. During his tenure of office no events of any great importance occurred. He issued some humane orders regarding the treatment of the Madagascar slaves. A particular regard was to be paid to their diet to preserve their health and to render them fit for effective service, and positive orders were to be given " to the land and sea officers that they be treated with the greatest humanity, carefully instructed in their respective professions, and on no account whatever made either servants or drudges." On the 17th November 1750 Richard Bourchier, who had reached the advanced age of sixty-one, succeeded Wake. Two years after he became Governor Edward Ives, Surgeon, visited

Bombay Quarterly Review, Volume V.

INTRODUCTION. xlv

Bombay and described the island to be " for its size perhaps the most flourishing of any this day in the universe. Though the soil is so barren as not to produce any one thing worth mentioning, yet the convenience of its situation will always make up for that defect." It may be fairly styled " the grand store-house of all the Arabian and Persian commerce." He proceeds to relate that " on this island are many hill forts and batteries, as Dungaree, Massegon, Mahee, Mendhoms Point and Sion-IIill. Some guns are mounted on each of them, but the principal fort which defends this place has above one hundred. This building is a regular square, and the materials thereof are very good." Mr. Ives is one of the very few men who has described the Bombay Cathedral as " a very handsome edifice." He informs us that horses were very scarce and oxen had to be used in their stead. The admiral himself had to use them in his chaise " for an afternoon's airing to Malabar Hill, and to the end of Old Woman's island, to Fruadmulla, and many other places." The sanitary condition of the town however at this time was so bad that it became necessary to take some measures to remedy it. The Board having come to the conclusion that the " unsanitary condition of the town was in a great measure owing to the little regard the inhabitants in general pay to the Scavenger, on account of his being always a junior servant ; agreed that a member of the Board be appointed to that office, and that all houses within the town be proportionally taxed for maintaining a sufficient number of labourers, carts, & buffaloes for keeping the town clean." (Vol. II. p. 93.)

On the 1st December 1759 the "Phirmand from the Moghul Emperor granting the Castle of Surat to the English was read by the Secretary mounted on horseback to all the Euroj>ean inhabitants who attended on the occasion, and the Codgee likewise published the originals to the Natives when they were ordered to be deposited in the Treasury ; the troops then fired three vollies and gave three huzzas which was followed by a discharge of the cannon round the walls." (Vol. II. p. 108.)

At this time it was not the Great Moghul whose power had decayed but a Mahommedan soldier in Southern India who chiefly attracted the attention of the Bomhay Government 1 lyder Ally had risen from being the head of a body of troops to the supreme power in the State of Mysore. He had also extended the boundaries of his kingdom by the conquest of the States which surrounded it. He had formed no political alliance with any Stab 1 all alike dreaded his growing power. It must therefore have been a matter of extreme gratification for Mr. Crom- melin, who had succeeded Mr. Bourchier, to receive a friendly letter from the renowned Hyder Ally Caun. He informs the President — " I conquered this coast of Mallabar purposely to see the Hon^? Company supplied plentifully with pepper & sandalwood in a most advantageous manner in order to have the friendship between us daily increased & firmly preserved." (Vol. II. p. 130.) The friendship was however of short duration. In a letter dated the 1st February 1 7«*>S we read — " In consequence of the situation of affairs in the Carnatick we have come to the resolution of setting on foot an expedition against Hyder Allis fleet and possessions upon this coast." (Vol. II. p. 134.) In March tidings came of the capture of Mangalore and a month later of the fort of Onore (p. 143). Fortified Island which guards the mouth of the Onore river was also taken with trifling loss. The English did not hold these places long. In May of the same year the Mysore troops appeared in considerable force before Onore and it was abandoned. Hyder made overtures of peace both to the Bombay and Madras Government, but the latter received them with great haughtiness as they despised their foe and hoped to conquer his realm. Hyder informed their b 1255—12 int

Xlvi INTRODUCTION.

envoy that he was sensible that he could not oppose them in the field " and therefore would not attempt it, but that he would give us much trouble, and as he was forced to quit his own country he was determined to enter the Carnatick, & do all the mischief he could, and if all reasonable terms were refused him, he would come to the gates of Madras to make peace." (Vol. II. p. 158.) And to the surprise of the Madras Government he appeared before their capital at the head of 6,000 cavalry and compelled them to agree to his own terms. A treaty was con- cluded on the 4th of April 1769 consisting of two main conditions : first, a mutual restitution of conquests ; and secondly, mutual aid and alliance in defensive wars.

After he had governed the island for seven years Charles Crommelin retired and Thomas Hodges became President. His rule was unimportant and of short duration, and in 1770 he was succeeded by William Hornby, who by his foresight and courage has won a high rank among the great men who have built up our Indian empire. Shortly after he had assumed office an expedition was sent against Broach whose Nawab had behaved with scant courtesy towards our representative. A force was sent from Bombay and Broach was taken by storm on the 15th November 1772.

In 1777 the Civilians addressed a letter to the Governor and Council as to " the inadequacy of their salary to their unavoidable expenses." Four years previously they had addressed the Honourable Court of Directors on the same subject, but no answer had been received to their letter. They argued that a writership was meant as a term of probation ; a kind of apprentice- ship, and for this reason the salary was fixed at thirty rupees per mensem and that " young men must look to their friends for assistance during that period." (Vol. II. p. 197.) That the writer- ship led to posts of trust and " from the emoluments of these offices a senior servant of the Company could acquire a decent maintenance until his arrival at Council, when he could be enabled to acquire that independent means of subsistence in the latter part of fife, and in our native country : the hope of which brings us all to this." (Vol. II. p. 198.) They pointed out that by the number of servants sent out and the contraction of the system there was a block in promotion and after twelve and fourteen years of service men were left without adequate means of subsistence. They noted that the pay of the military increased as they advanced each step in rank, " whilst by a contradiction to common sense without the supposition above alluded to the subsistence of a Civil Servant continues the same through every rank, whether a Writer or a Senior Merchant, whether he has served the Company one, four, or one-and-twenty years, whether he is fresh arrival and without acquaintance, or whether his first wants are increased by a worn constitution, a decent regard of appearances, and a degree of conformity to the manners of the place requisite to preserve acquaintance and the good opinion of the world : in short, whatever may be his situation, his diet money, which was never thought of as an adequate subsistence and is below the salary of the lowest clerks of the offices in England, these thirty rupees per month and his trifling salary are 'to be the sole dependance of an unemployed Civilian for all the necessaries of life." The Directors, it is true, had attempted to remove the block in promotion " by permitting five & twenty of their servants at the Presidency to be removed to the Bengal Establishment as Writers of the year 1773." The offer was generally refused, because " the distinguished character which the Honourable Company maintain in this part of the globe renders their servants an object of attention to the first men of it ; quite inconceivable to those who have never been in the way to observe that attention. But, gentlemen, it was not this pride alone that occasioned our non-acceptance.

INTRODUCTION. xlvii

We have learnt that to every junior servant without a very prevalent interest, Bengal does not afford those great advantages to compensate for our loss of rank. From our infor- mation the service there is so overloaded in the junior part of it, that a person ranking only from seventy-three cannot reasonahly hope in the present state of things to attain the higher offices hy course of service in less than thirty -five years." (Vol. II. p. 199.) They drew attention to the assertion that there was some secret benefits in the service which rendered it not so unprofitable as it seemed to be. " Besides the emoluments of the service, there is no certain mode of acquiring a rupee. For as to trade, gentlemen, we believe you will allow from the observa- tion of many years that it is in general a much more probable mode of sinking a fortune than by acquiring one.'' (Vol. II. p. 200.) To support their statement the petitioners annexed a particular statement of the Company's Civil Servants from 1755 to 1777 and gave the following summary of what it proved — "In the course of twenty -two years, from February 1755 to the present period three gentlemen have gone to England with fortunes acquired in the service ; of the seventy- five gentlemen that belonged to the establishment in 1755, forty -eight have died in India : of these, eight had acquired, or had a prospect of fortunes; but twenty-five died positive bankrupts; and amongst these, were those who had served the Company from twenty-four to thirty-three years and were of the Council at Bombay, the remaining fifteen died possessed of very little more than was sufficient to defray their burial charges, although many of them had been from twelve to twenty years in the service. Previous to the year 1755, and until the year 1767, the general rise to Council was from eleven to fifteen years : from that period it has become more tedious ; the two gentlemen who are at present next to Council have been twenty -two years in the Companys service ; and those who entered the service of late years have little prospect of gaining that station under thirty years." (P. 179.) The claim of the Civilians to an increase of pay was strongly supported by the Governor, and the Board unanimously agreed to allow the senior merchants who signed the address a share in the Dewani Fund from Bengal equal to that of a Lieutenant-Colonel, being about 3,600 rupees per annum ; and they resolved also, that the same allowance should be made to the Chaplain, Secretaries, and Deputy Accountant in addition to their other salaries. " This," wrote a Junior Civilian of the day, " rendered our situation comfortable, until we obtained an appointment at a subordinate settlement and enjoyed the emoluments annexed to such a situation."*

After having granted the prayer of their own servants for an increase to their emoluments, the Government had to consider a petition from the merchants praying that the export duty on silver might be removed. They stated that " the hardness of their situation in being obliged to pay a duty of 3 per cent on all silver coins exported from this settlement to the southward, which silver in general is the produce of goods, on which a custom of 6j per cent has been already collected, or is meant to purchase merchandise with, which will pay this duty here- after. Your petitioners trust that your Honor &ca will deem 6£ p. cent as much as trade can possibly bear at the very low ebb it is at present, and that near 10 p. cent, which this addi-

*" At the time, I can safely affirm, I lived in the most sparing manner, a writer's income altogether not exceed- ing sixty-five ponnds per annnm. I never drank wine at my own table, and often went supperless to bed when the day closed, because I could not afford either supper or candle : as the dinner hour was one o'clock, and a writer's age generally between sixteen and twenty-one, the abstinence was not occasioned by a want of appetite. During the bright moonlight evenings, I ind ulged myself in reading on the flat roof of the writer's apartments at the bunder ; where, through the medium of cloudless atmosphere, I could peruse the smallest edition of Shakespeare without inconvenience." (P. 165 For. O. M.)

xlviii INTRODUCTION.

tional duty brings it to is more than any trade can support, even when the markets are far more advantageous." (Vol. II. p. 224.) The Government allowed that the merchants did suffer some hardship in paying the duty on the exports to the Malabar coast, " yet as we can find no re- medy which will not admit of abuse, as under cover of exporting money to the coast it might be carried to China and Batavia, from whence it never returns, it is therefore resolved that the duty be continued as at present." (Vol. II. p. 223.) Another request the Members of Council found more difficult to refuse. The President requested the loan of six hundred candies of cot- ton from the Company's stock in Warehouse " which I will either pay at the medium price this may sell for, or return the like quantity in new cotton, for which I request the Board's concur- rence." Though the President was allowed to deal in cotton it was "resolved agreeable to the Committees recommendation that all Companys servants, Civil, Military or Marine, their servants or dependants, as well at the Presidency as the subordinates, be strictly prohibited from dealing directly or indirectly in grain except on the Honbl? Companys account, and that this prohibition be publickly made known to the servants and to the Army in General Orders as also the Officers of the Marine." (Vol. II. p. 259.)

On the 1st January 1784 "William Hornby embarked for Europe after having governed the Presidency with great ability and judgment for eleven years and by his courage guided it through the perils by which the Marathas beset it. (Vol. II. p. 279.) He was succeeded by Rawson Hart Boddam. The English were now at war with Tippoo Sultan. His father Hyder Ally had once more burst through the passes of Mysore and brought the British Empire in Southern India to the verge of ruin, when his progress was arrested and our national honour retrieved by the cool courage of Hastings and the military genius of Coote. At the end of 1784 death calmed the restless spirit of the daring freebooter. The war was continued by his son, who proceeded to the Western coast to oppose an invasion by General Mathews who had been sent with a small force from Bombay. The orders were that the fort of Bednore in the tableland of Mysore should first be captured. The citadel was situated on the crown of a lofty hill and the path which led up to it was considered to be impregnable. The Highlanders who formed part of the force, however, gallantly carried by assault the defences and the town was surrendered. The English were not suffered to retain undisturbed possession of their conquest. Tippoo Sultan proceeded by forced marches to Bednore and invested the fort. The little garrison for five months gallantly defended it. Then the stock of provisions became scanty. There seemed no hope of relief and they capitulated. The terms were that " the garrison should march out of the fort with the honors of war, & pile their arms on the glacis ; that all public stores should remain in the fort ; that all prisoners taken since the siege began should be delivered up ; that after being joined by the garrisons of -Cowladroog & Annantpore (who were included in these articles) the whole should have full liberty to march unmolested with all their private property to Sadashagur,* from thence to embark for Bombay." (Vol. II. p. 282.) These terms were shamefully violated by Tippoo. Nothing in history or fiction surpasses the tale of woe recounted by his prisoners to their Government. The document published now for the first time cannot be read after the lapse of a century without a feeling of indignation and horror. The officers plundered and stripped were " chained two and two by the hands." During the day they

* The 1st volume of the Selections from the Records gives a detailed account of the dealings of the Marathas with the English.

INTRODUCTION. xlix

were marched fifteen miles. " Several of the gentlemen who were ill & much fatigued by the intense heat of the sun and the want of water, attempting to rest themselves under a tree were beaten in a most unmerciful manner by the enemy with swords & sticks, while others were driven on with the butts of their firelocks, spit upon, & abused in the grossest manner." Several were released from their sufferings by death, and the living remained chained to the dead for several hours. After fifteen days' marching they reached Chittledrug, a strong and almost impenetrable fortress one hundred and twenty-eight miles east of Bednore. Here they were confined in two separate houses and their handcuffs knocked off and irons put on their legs. Their daily allowance was one seer of the coarsest rice, wood for cooking it and two pice to purchase additional food from a market " supplied with every article except butchers meat." In a short time they were compelled to purchase wood, which " additional expense deprived us of half of our paltry daily allowances. Then the market was removed and nothing brought for sale but sour milk, salt, chillies, tamarind and tobacco." "About midnight Sergeant Dobbins of the 102'IL1 Regiment, who had been ill of a fever some days, departed this life : & when the doors of the prison were opened in the morning, we made the Wurdee Wollah acquainted with the circumstance, & requested the corpse might be im- mediately taken away and decently interred, for we feared the putrid stench that arose from it might occasion some infectious distemper ; but instead of complying with our request, he told us we must dig a grave in the prison & bury him there. We then represented to him the offensive inconvenience of such a measure, and likewise the impossibility of doing it, having no tools for that purpose, to which he replied, ' Dig it with your nails.' However, after many humble entreaties, we at last gained our point & the funeral service having been read, the corpse was tied up in a mat, and carried out of the prison by our servants ; after which the enemy tied a rope about the neck, and took it away. On the 20^ they deprived us of the sour milk, so that we had then nothing to subsist on but rice alone without any other vehicle than water to carry it down. The daily insults we received from our cruel tyrannical enemy, joined to the rest of our treatment, when compared with our former situations in life, at times depressed our spirits and hurt our feelings so much, that words cannot do justice to our suffer- ings. But on reflection, recollecting we were Britons, & how shameful it was to yield to gloomy despair, we resumed our usual gaiety of mind determined by the help of Providence to surmount every difficulty in hopes of future revenge." After a year of execrable cruelty endured with fortitude, one morning the prisoners had the glad tidings brought to them that peace was concluded and they were free men. One incident alone relieves the tragic monotony of the tale of barbaric cruelty related by the prisoners. They wrote : — " Our sepoys were equally oppressed in every prison, all of them having been employed as coolies, carrying mud, stones, & chunam the whole time of their confinement, with no other allowance than one seer of rauggy & one pice each ; & having been daily punished with stripes & threatened to be hanged for refusing to enter into the Nawaubs service. This hard usage caused numbers of them to die. The circumstance with which we were made acquainted by some of the European soldiers so much redounds to the honor of the sepoys that it cannot pass unnoticed. In some of the prisons where the Europeans & sepoys were confined together, the latter saved money out of their daily allowance & purchased meat for the former, at the same time telling them they well knew the customs of Europeans, & that they could not do without it : also, when on their march, they would not suffer the Europeans to carry their knapsacks, but the sepoys took

b 1255—13 int

1 INTRODUCTION.

them & carried them themselves, telling the Europeans they were better able to bear the heat of the sun than they were, the climate being natural to them."

From Bednore Tippoo proceeded to Mangalore with his whole army, at least 100,000 strong. The defences were weak, the garrison consisted only of 700 English and 2,800 Native soldiers, but for many months they kept at bay their foes. The besiegers erected numerous batteries around the town and made huge breaches in the walls through which Tippoo' s host led by Frenchmen often attempted to enter, but the little garrison manfully stood their ground and many a bloody contest took place. After a few months' continuous fighting a flag of truce brought the English commander news of a peace having been concluded between Great Britain and France and that a cessation of hostilities had in consequence taken place on the Coromandel Coast. An armistice ensued. Tippoo bound himself to establish a market where the garrison might purchase ten days' provision of every kind. General Macleod had an interview with the sovereign of Mysore, who expressed a sincere desire for peace with the English. The General replied that the best proof he could give of his sincerity would be to release the English prisoners. Shortly after General Macleod's return to the head-quarters of his army at Tellicherry he learnt that Tippoo had broken the convention and was attempting to starve the garrison into submission. He promptly gathered together a force to march to their aid. His route lay through Canannore, whose Queen had seized and confined some shipwrecked officers, and he determined to punish her for the outrage. After a long and fatiguing march of fifty-eight hours he arrived within three miles of Cannanore where he halted. Next morning he advanced to the sea, communication With which was essential. He found a large body of the enemy drawn up behind a high breastwork, who received the English with a brisk fire. The sepoys however rushed on with great impetuosity and the enemy gave way and fled without stopping to the fort. Batteries were now erected and the guns being served with unceasing fury and marked precision, a breach was quickly made which was thought practicable, but it was necessary to sound the ditch to ascertain the length of the ladders necessary for the descent. This was performed by a Light Infantry Serjeant of the 52ud Regiment " who being furnished with a plumbline, ran across the esplanade in open day, stood under a smart fire from the walls on the bank of the ditch, dropped his lead and returned unhurt." Next morning the fort was captured by storm. The town had however still to be taken. It was girdled by a wall and earthen breastworks flanked with many towers and forts. The General thought that by an instantaneous vigorous attack delivered by our troops in the flush of victory the lines of defence might be captured. He therefore ordered the whole of his force to advance. The stormers under a mass of fire moved over broken ground to the lines, but the destructive musketry, the strength of the earthworks and the valour of the enemy who fought with the courage of despair rendered all their efforts nugatory. At this time occurred an act of gallantry which has never been surpassed in the annals of England. " Lieui ColL Barry at the head of the British division had stormed one of their strongest redoubts. It was thought necessary to evacuate it. Its importance was soon recollected, and he determined to repossess it. Having crossed the ditch and standing on the brim, with his Serjeant only,

he saw his troops for a moment at a stand. Being a little man and much fatigued, he begged the Serjeant to take him in his arms and throw him amongst the enemy, and he was sure his brave men would follow him. They did follow him, and swept everything before

t hem. This gallant officer was in this attack shot in the head with a musquet, wounded in the

INTRODUCTION. H

leg by a pike, & bruised by a cannon bullet discharged from the hand ; but he is happily out of danger." (Vol. II. p. 297.) Next morning the English brought their heavy guns to bear uj>on the town and it surrendered. Tippoo Sultan wrote to the General and remonstrated against the capture of Cannanore because the Queen was his ally. The General replied that he never knew she was his ally till after he had taken the place, and if he had known he would still have taken the place because the Queen had begun the war. He also added : "Your Highness has a custom of calling all the Malabar princes, who are allies of the Hon^? Company, your servants. Every one is your servant : I don't understand this. I have the greatest & most perfect respect for your Highness, next to my own great King I desire your prosperity more than that of any other Prince, but I must not give up my conquests because you say every prince on the coast is your servant." Tippoo now consented to negotiate a treaty which was signed on the I lth of March 1784. The terms (Vol. II. p. 316) were a mutual restoration of all conquests and by a severe struggle of four years neither of the contending parties gained any advantage.

Four years after the treaty was signed the Honourable the President attended by the Council, the Covenanted Servants and the principal European and Native inhabitants went from the Govern- ment House to the Dockyard, where he delivered the keys of the garrison to his successor Andrew Ramsay, Esq. Brigadier-General Nilson protested against Mr. Ramsay assuming the powers of the Commander-in-Chief during his provisional tenure as Governor. His main argument was not very cogent : " Although the Company have annulled my former Commission of Commander-in-Chief of the Forces under this Presidency, and appointed me Second-in-Command of the Army, it was done at a time when they appointed another Commander-in-Chief, and it is natural to suppose that when such Commander-in-Chief resigns his office, that the next superior of the military officer succeeds him in such command unless another has been appointed by the jjonbie t]ie Court of Directors in his room. " The Council decided that " the Hon^i? Company in their commands of the 12!^ April 1786 having been pleased to alter the constitution of this Government, expressly declaring that they judged it expedient to unite the offices of Governor and Commander-in-Chief at this Presidency in one person, and constructed the com- mission accordingly ; we cannot entertain a doubt of their intentions that the same powers on the departure of Rawson Hart Boddam, Esq^f, should devolve upon his successor, we therefore cannot, consistently with our idea of the present constitution, admit the validity of the Generals pretensions. But agreeable to his request, ordered that a copy of his letter be forwarded in the packet to our superiors." (Vol. II. p. 341.) The only measure of importance carried out during the provisional Governorship of Mr. Ramsay was the establishment of a bi-monthly post between Madras and Bombay. The charge for a single letter was Rs. 2 and it was delivered in twenty- five days. On the 6th September 1788 Major-General William Medows landed at Bombay and '• the Hon'ble the President having been introduced by the late President, and the usual oath having been previously administered to him, takes the chair." After holding the Governorship for two uneventful years General Medows was succeeded by General Sir Robert Abercromby, who in 1793 became Commander-in-Chief in India. For two years the office was held by act- ing incumbents after which Jonathan Duncan became Governor of Bombay. From his accession to office all traces of the mercantile element are obliterated from the State papers which hence for- ward become the archives of a large and prosperous realm. Four years after Jonathan Duncan became Governor of Bombay was fought the battle of Assaye. The wild mountain tribes which Shivaji welded into a nation had destroyed the power of the Moghul and exacted tribute from

lii INTRODUCTION.

every corner of the wide empire founded by Baber. The Marathas were lords of India when the victory of Wellington dealt a deathblow to their supremacy, and from that time dates the political ascendancy of the English in the East. The Factory at Surat, whose origin and rise we have traced, became in less than a century an Empire which in extent of territory and in multitude of subjects rivalled the dominion of Rome.

G. W. FORREST. Secretariat, Bombay, ) August 1887. )

SELECTIONS

FROM

THE SURAT LETTERS

1630-1700.

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SELECTIONS

FROM

THE SURAT LETTERS

(1630—1700).

Our good ffreinds ML Fframbin EsI?

The fHeet out of England (whose names and Commanders you shall find in the inclosed page) To Agra setting sayle out of the Downes the 19th March last past and voluntaryly missing of the Cape most happilie met first w^ the home bound "Charles" and "Jonas" att S^. Lawrence,* and after- wards w^ the " Discovery " and "Reformation" at Johanat w*h whom in Compf together (to God be the praise) wee arrived here the very instant day of the date hereof. And by the inclosed coppie of such clauses as in the Comp^ letter are thought fit to communicate unto you for the present, you will perceave how they have disposed of their affaires in these p*, and uppon whom they have conferred their power and authorytie for the ordering thereof, that soe from hence forth you may addresse yourselves for directions accordingly. And in the meane while take tymely knowledge, that for the better forwarding of our dispatches this yeare for England and to pi. vent the wintring of our shipp by the way, which is now most inconvenyently hap- pened to the " Charles " and " Jonas " att S^ Lawrence, through usuall custome of awayting of our shipps backe retourne from Persia, to make this the last porte of their finall dispeed for England, wee are determyned, for this yeare only, to alter that course by appointing Persia for their last porte, and to that end shall w^ all conveniencie possible indeavo?? the pi sent lading of these our Indian investing, p.vided and appointed for the accol of the first voyage ; and by that meanes will hope to give them their dispeed from hence by the 25th or last of November at the furthest, and w^ them also our letters and accomp^! for England ; w9t may serve for advertisemi unto you, that you be nott backward in the like yo£ selves, or behinde in ought elce that might concerne that present expedition.

The aforesaid coppies of such severall clauses in the Comp?f letter as doe concerne that ffactory, shall till further occasion hereafter excuse our insisting on the particulars, who doe rather in respect of our long discontinuance of being conversant in these affaires, and as yet haveing had but little conference w!l» the factors heere, expect to receive from you a relation of the present estate of yol p.ticular imploym*!, as what goods you have there in a readynes,

* The 22nd of July wo discovered the great island Madagascar, commonly called St. Lawrence, we being then betwixt it and the African shore, which has almost every part of it under or without the southern tropick. — Terry'9 Voyage to East India (1665), p. 31.

f The island of Johanna is one of the four isles of Comora : their names are, Comora, Monilla, Johanna, and Mayotta. Johanna lies near the foot of St. Lawrence, between that and the main land of Africa, in about 12^° of south latitude, by our observations we made no more than 12° and 6 minutes. 'Tis guessed to be stretched in length about thirty miles and in latitude half the number. Its fertility invites all the Europe ships tending towards Suratt, and the northern parts of India, to refresh themselves there. — Ovington's Voyage to Surat (1689), p. 108.

4 SURAT LETTERS.

what yet to provide by any former order, yol several! ingagem^ if any, the priee and quantityes of Indico, as well of old as new at this instant to be had, and what corrinals w^} you their in the buying thereof, together wQ yo L. opinions of its likely rising or falling, or what elce you shall thinke fit to participate unto us, whether in the p Lmises, or ought that is heere unmentioned.

On the contrary you may expect w^ all expedition from hence such fitting sumes of supplie by exp ° as by collection out of your former advises to this ff actory, may suite w*h the nature of yol. plsent occasions, and shall be agreeing w^ our owne designes, for another investment to be downe before the reynes, w<^ by oJL next, very speedyly intended, wee shall more at large God willing advise you.

If of the com£ now brought out of England especially broad clothes, Devonshere kersieg or perpetuities w?^ are dyed into collours sorting wQ the humor of these people, you shall incourage us to send you any p*| for tryall wee will indeavor the same if not otherwise disposed of in the interim, and that there be fit conveyance to effect it w^ conveniencie.

The above written hath beene detayned by us ever since the 12^ plsentt (w5^ was the day of our arrivall before the wall of Suratt), p^Z through the interuption of ffriggatts that hindred ol landing for many dayes, and pfe since by other dispatches for Bantam and Coromondell, as also some tyme taken upp in vissits of these people to us, and wee to them, as the necessitye of such usuall cerymonyes required.

Our ffleet wee sent out againe to sea at the request of these cheifes, both in quest, as for the safe garding in of their shipp the "Shawhee "; the forsaid friggatts lyeing in wayte to surprize her, and are further bent by stratagem of fire (haveing vessells fitted for the purpose) to practise some mischeifes uppon oL shipps in the hole of Swally* ; for, without they dare not attempt it.

And now in answer e to yoJl last of the 10^ August rec4 the 14^ pJLsent, it will very much concerne yoJL repute in the seasonable sending downe of your accompts, as well those for the old joynt stocke as those other for the first Persian voyage, w2?? not arriving before the first November as above said will come too late for their this yeares convayance, and some tyme you must remember to allowe for their entry heere into o£ generall bookes, whose not sending home this yeare would be imputed to the neglect of o£_ men, if any in that kinde should be backeward.

You will p.ceave by that clause of the Comp±. letter w^ concernes the buying of salte- peeter howe they doe now restraine us to such sorts as are onely double refined, and for as much as the charge from thence is extraordinary great, and that in England, it is very much fallen in price, wee shall hence forward confine ourselves to the ff actory Amadavad for the p.vision of that commoditie, where wee will not doubt of sufficient to accomplish the quantityes now required, wsh are not to exceed a convenient p.portion only fitting for Ballast of the shipps retournable for England ; soe as you shall be quit from all further troubles w$ wee p.ceave to be incident in the procuring of these p.visions..

* Swally, Swally Roads, Swally Marine, Swally Hole. — Suwali the once familiar name of the roadstead north of the mouth of the Tapti where ships for Surat usually anchored and discharged or took in cargo. — Colonel Yule's Hobson-Jobson.

As also passing by Balsore (Bnlsaf) eight Ships riding at Surat River's mouth, we then came to Swally Marine

where were flying the colours of the three nations English, French, and Dutch who here land and ship off all

goods without molestation. To this place belong two sorts of Vermin, the Fleas and Banyan, the one harbouring in the sand fasten upon you as you pass ; where it is some pastime to see what shift the Banyan makes, being bit by them he dare not kill them, for fear of unhousing a Soul according to their notion of Transmigration. The other Vermin are the Banyans themselves that hang like Horse-leeches till they have sucked both Sanguinem Sr Succum (I mean money) from you. — Fryer's Travels, p. 82,

SUB AT LETTERS. 5

Wee should be glad to heere that that which you have provided allready were well onward on the wave, for its tymely arrival] lure, if it were possible to be sent home in the retourning b\u\>\> yeare, w'11 otherwise must be turned over, and ap.priated totheacc" of this second voyage.

You are to take further knowledge that as the Comp» are some what restrained in the requires of eallicoes of all sorts, soe doe they inlarge the more in their demaunds of both Cenpies* and Agra indico.t and seeing the former to be unreasonably inhanced in price, also a scarcetye thereof, and many buyers, wee must endeavour the greater quantityes of those richer sorts there w^.1 you, wherein for the more expedit p. fori nance and attayning of our full desires and that the investment of this yeare may have its full accomplishment, to be downe at Suratt before the begining of the reines wee doe send you here w^ all a bill of Exp L for 25000 rupees made payable their unto you a...dayes accustomed by VimjukiccaJ the Vakill of oL ancient acquaintance Vergee Vora§ who hath also furnished us with a letter of credit to the amount of 25000 Rupees ; for your further supplie uppon all occasions, and for addition thereunto likewise wee intend to goe still remitting either by the waye of Amadavad, or imeadiattly from hence, or from both, fully to inable you to the purchaseing of 4 or 5000 of those mands to be p.vided, and sent downe within the lymitted tyme aforesaid, wherefore wee pray you to be very frequent in your advices, and be resolute to lay hold upon all opportunities for the effecting of those o r imunitions ; and for your better assistance in the pimises wee intend very speedyly, God willing, a supplies of one or two ffactors from hence, for the businesse may well deserve it.

Let us have a word or two of the prices of suger and suger candy, as also of the quantityes there p.vidable, and the seasons when most cheapest, that against another yeare wee may make a fitting provision thereof for Persia.

Upon oL. shipps retourne againe into porte, w2^ wee doe expect within 8 or lOdayesat the furthest, wee will send you yoL. p.ticular letters, if any out of England, where there is little alteration since the last yeares ffleet, only that the treaty of peace w*£ Spaine was in agitation by reciprocall embasies from each King to other, w2^ yet by their non-cessation of armes, the successe is somewhat to be doubted, and soe not remembering ought elce att pilsent, wee commend you to Gods mercies and with freindly salutes rest

Your very loving ffreinds,

Surratt y*E 30* September 1G30. THOMAS RASTELL.

JOHN SKIBBOW. JOSEPH HOPKINSON. RICHARD BARBER. JAMES BICKFORD. ARTHUR SUFFEILD. JOHN HORRIS.

•Chircies or Chirchees, is a small town about a league and a half from Ahmedabad. It has a great number of tombs of the kings and princes of G uzerat, whence the Indians believe that it was, in ancient times, the capital of that kingdom ; but it is more probable that it was only the burying place of their kings, and that Ahmedabad was always their capital. The factory which the Dutch had here was established for the sake of purchasing indigo. — Stavorinus's Voyages to the East Indies, Vol. III., p. 109.

t Indigo comes from several parts of the great Mogal's Empire ; and according to the diversity of the places

it differs in quality and consequently in price. In the first place, it comes from the territories of Biana, Indona,

and Covesa, a day or two's journey from Agra, which is esteemed the best of all. It is made also eight days'

journey from Surat. in a village call'd Sarque/, two leagues distance from Amadabad ". — Taverner'a Travels in

India, p. 128.

* Kimji Kika. § Virji Vora.

b 1255—2

<6 SUB AT LETTERS.

WorpI| and our very loving ffreinds Mrr Burt EsqL

But first you may take a knowledge that the "James William" and "Blessing" depths England the 19!t March last, and passing by the Cape, arrived att Si Lawrence the I4*ii Julye, where they founde the "Charles" and "Jonas" intending to make that their place of wintring, for the more seasonable arrivall upon the coast of England ; and proceeding thence for Johanna they as prosper- ouslye met there the " Discovery " and "Reformation," in whose compi. together they all safely arrived at the Barr of Surratt the 22 passed, to that God that guided us hether be the glorye.

Heere at our very first appearance wee were confronted by a ffleet of about 30 saile ffrigats and smaller vessells who had awayted, as well the Junckes* of this place as o_r owne shipps neare uppon 20 dayes before o r.. coming, and in that intrim had made seasure, and carried hence y er Mussahee of this port w**L a very great wealth of treasuree. Our landing heere for certayne dayes they also hindred, for untill wee had conference w^ll the ffactors here residing wee held it not safe to adventure into the hole of Swally, not knowing what hindrances might have been p^pared to indanger us uppon the Barr by the sinkeing of some vessells o^. other materialls to that purpose, and dureing this delaye they hesitated not to make more dareing approaches about oil shipps, then became either their safety or discretiones to adventure, for by that meanes wee shattered one of their ff rigatts in peeces w*| our great ordnance, and a smaller vessel wee likewise surprized with our Barges, whereby haveing examined the Portuigalls ete that were in her, wee beccame privye to their mischeivous designes against us, aymeing cheifely by the fireing of certayne ffriggats filled up w^l combustable stuffe, and chained to- gether for the purpose, to attempt the ruine of ol Admyrall and Vice Admyrall, or one of them if it were possible, w^i wee conceave to be now deferred for execution untill o£. entering into that narow poole of Swally, albeit that beefore wee had taken that vessell it seemes they had otherwise resolved.

Whilst wee were thus in expectation of this their stratagem, our ffreinds Mi! Skibbow and the rest were gotten aboard, who participating unto us the extraordinary importunitye and (as wee may say) petitions of the Governor and Merchants of this towne, that wee would now take their cause into our p.tection, by sending out oJL shipps againe to attend the waseting(?) of their expected "Shawhee" most richly fraught from Mocha, M^L Rastell (yol newe President) with the rest new come, convayed themselves on shoare, and after great honol. done him by these cheifes at his first reception condescended to their request (though first concluded on by a generall Consultation helde aboard before his thence dep.ture) and instantly sent off the whole ffleet together in quest of their Jouncke to the great contentment of this people.

Since w^L by letters from Damon is advised that seaven of their ffriggatts, following the ffleete and taking advantage of the seperation of one single shipp from the rest, very boldly attempted her w!!? fireworkes etla, but shee (prepared w^ the like) both acquitted herselfe of danger, and even by their owne ellement of fire directed by the just hand of God consumed 5 of the 7 ; the rest of the ffleet haveing also by this tyme incompassed them round, and, as is guest, might with their ordnance (and nott solely by fire as aforesaid) helpe to make up the full period of that destruction, many dead bodyes (some saye two boats lading) being brought on shoare, and interred, at Damon, but the body of the Vice Kings sonne who it seemes perrished also in the action not found to accompanye the rest of his ffellowes.

* Jtmk is a large eastern, especially (in later use) a Chinese ship. This is one of the oldest words in the Europeo-Indian vocabulary. It occurs in the travels of Friar Odorico, written down in 1331, and a few years later in the rambling reminiscences of John de' Marignolli. The French translators of Ibn Batuta derive the word from the Chinese tchonen (chwen). The old Arab traders must have learned the word from Malay pilots, for it is certainly the Javanese and Malay jong and ajong a ship or large vessel. In Javanese the Great Bear is called Lintang jong " The constellation junk". — Colonel Yule's Hobson-Jobson, p. 360.

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By these disturbances, the interchangable vissits of the Moores to us, and wee to them, together \v,h the necessitye of pifering our generall directions, and advices for Bantam and the coast of Coromondell (where our letters will finde the " Starr " for conveyance to the southwards), our settling of the ffactoryes to their severall imploym I and inordering of supplyes to all, and every of the ffactories, for the more expedit p.formance of the many businesses that are now commended to our cares and direction, yoi Patta mar* hath been a fewdayes longer deteyned then had been otherwise fitting or desired.

By the inclosed copie of the Compel this yeares letter unto you, whose originall wee intend to send you by the shipp, you may perceave how they have disposed of their affaires both heere, there and the other p§ of India, and as they have given you a taste of their next yeares intention touching the manner and order of their designed supplies for those p?i of Persia, soe may you now assuredly depend on their certaine p.formance therein ; inasmuch as the very day before my dep.ture out of London, the booke of subscription for the third voyage was fully com pi eat, shut up, and not a man after that day admitted to underwrite much lesse afterwards, when they shall understand of yol endeavo1! and good successe in p.curing of a new contract w^L that Kinge.

But that w?!1 will maynely conduce to the p.fecting of the Comp^ contriveings for a more seasonable dispatch every yeare of their home-bound shipps from this place, namely by appointing of their outward bound ffleets to joyne forces wlh those allready in India, and to make Persia their first port must be your care and industry to meet them there w*Jl yoL silke at the tyme prescribed by the Comp^, though to their charge extraordinary to accomplish it, or elce if not possibly to be done, to advise us tymely thereof that wee may governe ourselves accordingly and alter the rendevous appointed, or otherwise contrive as the nature of oE. busines shall require.

And now retourning to the needfuil points of yo! letter, wee doe finde that for the Red earth of Ormuz here is soe little use in this country, as that from hence forth you may excuse the paynes of yol. endeavours therein, and forebeare to send any more of that com'L.

Wee will not doubt but rather rest confident of yoE good integrities and care in the exact collection of the Cornp?? p'JL of customes in that place ; and albeit, that wee are not unsenci- ble of the many bywayes that may be practised (and in some sort as yet unpreaventable) to defeat you of yo £. right ; neverthelesse wee cannot but admonish, and stirr up your intentions to the finding out such likely remedyes, as either the situation of the place for the erecting of a Custome House or the constituting of fitting Ministers may to your more experienced Judgments therein seeme necessary, and to that end, for the former, (if as aforesaid necessary) wee pray you both to consider well the charge, and to taste the Kings inclynation how farr hee may be drawne to contribute to the same, for of olselves wee dare not undertake it, nor till advice from yoiL doe wee give assent thereunto, and for the latter as it would require an English of some experience and language there in the country to be constantly resident, and to have no relation unto any other imployment but only that of the Customes, so were it also requisite that hee be ' furnished with an able Persian writer either one of yo£ owne choice there whom

* " The Indians in sending their letters abroad have not learnt the convenience of the quick despatches of our posts : A Pattamar or a foot messenger is generally employed to carry them to the remotest bounds of the Empire." — A Voyage to Surat in the year 1689, by J. Ovington, p. 251.

8 SURAT LETTERS.

you may confidently trust, or a Hindoo from hence of our owne selecting, who being a stranger there and haveing his dependance merely on the English may give us the more assurance of his loyalte. Ml Banggam now with us would be a very fit man wee know for the imployment, but so great is our want of ffactors in this place, as wee cannot for a while dispense with his absence.

What course you have hetherto held w^L the Dutch in takeing notice at least of their

goods and treasure imported and the thereof exported yearely from thence, wee shall

gladly understand, and for as much as the Comp % are yet in treaty with the Dutch Commis- sioners in England, for the compounding of all differences betwixt both Compel, and for that amongst divers other important demaunds of o ™ , that one of their customes most earnestly from tyme to tyme denyed us, being a matter of worth and waighty consideration, it would behove your greatest dilligence and inquisition truely, or as neare as may be, to informe yourselves out of the registers of that princes officers a neerest vallewation of the pl_mises, and thereof to procure us certificates from of the foresaid officers and the same to gett authentiquated either under the hands of Christians or otherwise, as may give itt credit •. & vallidity in England, and gett double coppies thereof, that by severall conveyances wee may send them home to the Comp.?_.

Wee p >Lsume that in the matter of want of waight in the silke formerly sent home you have not been faileing in your reasons to the Compfr, to wipe away all sinister doubts and con- structions, w 2* such breake in waight hath begotten, neverthelesse it will not be improper but rather convenient that you make us also privye to the same, where unto as in all things elce concerning the generall affaires, wee doe rely on yoJL discreet performance and conformities.

The Compi are very instant, as well with us as you, about the 35 Bales of silke wc!l long since you delivered in barter of private mens goods, to know who were the p.prietors and to give reason why you advised not thereof at the first.

The fraight that is due uppon the goods of " Sir Orland," wee intend not to excuse uppon any fayned p Ltence whatsoever.

And for the sufferings of Ml Bouthbye, w*^ the severall passages reciprocall accusations, and invectives twixt him and Mf Wilde Es_a wee will leave them to the impartiall censures of oL imployers at home, and will silence oL. owne opinions there uppon, leaving them to stand or fall as their severall attention shall deserve.

Thelosse of the "Charles" and "Jonas" their Monsoone this yeare for England, hath begotten a resolution in us to avoyd the like inconvenyence for the pelLsent, by makying Persia the last port of dispatch to the home bound shipps "Discoverye" and "Reformation"; yo 1 actfL of the old joynt stocke therefore, together wt£ that of the new should be in a readyness, namely one coppie of each to be sent to the Comp^L by that conveyance, and the others to bee dispeeded unto us, wherein if any remaynes of either, you may have recourse to the Compi8 orders heere w* all, appointing how you shall governe yo ^selves in its valluation and transport from one acc<L to another.

Wee will not fayle to correspond w^ yol desires in sending the p.ticular accompt of mens fraights from hence together w& their entryes in Custome House if possibly to be p.cured, and on the contrary shall expect like in you to compare the same wQ their entryes there ; and for whatsoever goods landed over and above the specified, though they should endeavol to passe them under the name and tytle of surplus of pi visions you exact for the same fraight and custome, that from thence they may cease pester o 1 shipps w^ unnecessary timber, whereunto they are incited out of some conceaved assurance of injoying the same w*!? out pay^i of either fraight or customes as aforesaid ; the repartition w£^ you made of the fraight

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from thence last yeare, hath been justly rectified here according to the coppie of M-L Clements accompt here inclosed, it not heing reasonable that cither ace? should allowe itself o any greater p ' portion thereof then was the amount of such fraight as the shipp belonging to each stock were capable of. especially when all of them wore full and goods left behinde for want of roome to stow them.

And heere properly it is fit wee give yo'L knowledge how that by reason of an extraordy- nary drowth, bringing w^ it an unyversall dearth over all this country, the like whereof not knowen either in the memorye of man or historye, as of all sorts of graine, soe of Cerques Indico in plticular wee shall finde an exceeding greate scarcities that of the last yeares growth being wholy bought upp allready by those merchants, who the last yeare takeing passage in our shipps from you, are inforced to make their retournes, for the most pi in that com ° by reason of the warrs w*jj. Decan hindring the free recourse thither for the investing of their monyes into these finer goods ; by wcJL meanes Indico is now risen to 18 and 18£ rup. per mand, nor of the new next yeare is there much expected, or can wee promise ourselves other then a very poore share of that, unlesse that wth you there be some discreet preven- tions or restrainte of passengers on ol retouring shipps from thence this yeare, w^ wee have thought good to pi advise, that you ingage not yoJlselves too farr by promise in that kinde except uppon great necessytie constrayning.

Your relation of the Persian warrs in defence against the Turke, and the others progresse tin rein, together w'A the Portuigalls pettie preparations in those p*™. was acceptable unto us. Advice by the way of Mocha since doth seeme to ascertayne that the Turke hath received a fatall overthrow. And of the Portuigalls piceedings in these p4?.. you have allready heard our discourse, their supply out of Europe this yeare being onely a Carrack* and one Gallion, w0'1 will very much disappointe the Vice Kinges designes, by the want of men, money, and useful p_L visions, wcil intelligence tells us are things he greatly stands in need of. That w* wee here most dread are his stratagemes by fire in Swally, and his ffriggatts intercepting of your boates in Gom- broone; the Ckauns assistance therefore soe freely promised unto yoJL would be further solicited to your aides as well by sea or land, namely by boats or ffriggatts of that countrye to be maned p.tely w^ his and p.tely w'Jl some of ol choicest shott, occasion soe requireing.

The Comp* (as well as wee) will take notice noe doubt of the complaint you make con- cerning the badnes and ill condition of yo^ last yeares cloth, wcJ? to speake truth may be imputed onely to the unseasonable tyme of yeare, unto w?£ the necessity of their affaires had then straightened them for itts pi vision, but wee hope that that newes come by this fleet will make amends for the former, to yol greater ease and contentmi..

Of the esteeme of gould and distinctions of coynes their vendible, wee take knowledge, but doe in treat notwithstanding a more exact satisfaction of all other sorts in p.'ticular; and that more especially touching the intrinsicall vallew of uncoynd gould, whether in ingots or other formes ; and whether in yo * payments or bartar w*J} the King the same would not passe as cur- rent as other specie, or part in that and p1! in Ryalls etra as may best arise to the highest p.fitt of the Comp? ; it is a subject that hath begotten great dispute at home, therefore wee pray you not to passe it over slightly, the rather also in regard of the scarcity of Ryalls not to be pur- chast now under lsrr 10d. the Ryall of readye monye.

•Carrack. A kind of vessel of burden from the middle ages down to the end of the 17 th century. The large cargo-ships of the Portuguese in the trade of the 16th century were generally so styled, and these were sometimes of enormous tonnage with 3 or 4 decks. — Yule's Hobson-Jobson.

•'After that we embarked at Venice on board a certain carrack and sailed down the Adriatic Sea." — Friar Pasqual in Cathay, 232.

b 1255—3

10

SURAT LETTERS.

Wee will not be wanting to any such Armenyans as shall seeke it at our hands, to complie w!*1 them in all civill courtesies, befitting either our repute or their condition and quallietie, whether it bee for transport of their p. sons or goods as tyme and occasion shall administer.

And ffor Gunny Ropes etE? for imbaileing, together w£ such other provisions as you have demaunded for the supplye of p^sents and house entertaynments, expect to be duely furnished, God wilhng, by the fleet, not doubting of the like care in you to accomplish wlh us in the same kinde for Xiras wine, wine vinnager, Accharr* of grapps, Pistachees, Rose watter etff all of them alike needfull unto us. But above all let us not come behinde the Dutch for some of yo L P.sian horses of noate, to content this warrlike prince et™ ; and herein that the Compi, may be preferred before their servants, wee doe praye you to prohibit the libertie wciL our Sea Commanders or other inferiours doe yearely presume on in that kinde for themselves, rather by way of Merchandize then any other needfull accommodation.

YoiL list of Indian Com! befitting Psia though itt satisfie in their p.ticular denominations, yet it leaves us ignorant altogether as well in their prices, as their severall quantities requisit, w^L deffect wee pray to rectifie more punctually for the future, and soe not conceaveing ought else at pi sent necessary for inlargeml wee commend unto you our loving respects and salutes and leaveing you to the blessed direction of the Almighty Rest

SurattylGtJ1 October 1630, dispeed by their owne Pattamars yl 6* ditto, 30 Ms_ being paid them besides their dayly allowance in consideration of the generall dearth at pr.sent in those p<* .

Yor__ very loveing ffreinds, THOMAS RASTELL. JOHN SKIBBOW. JOSEPH HOPKINSON. RICHARD BARBER. JAMES BICKFORD. ARTHUR SUFFEILDE.

Our very loving freinds Mi Mounteny Etc!?.

With our last of the 12^ pjlsent wee sent yo^ lists @ directions for the p.vision of such goods as are intended for the southerne supplyes, and this succeeding yeares returne for England; since w?t, vizi the 14^ ditto oil whole fleet returned, and (the ffriggats then absent) got into the hole of Swally the same night, but the next daye were vissited againe by their olde disturbers, reduced then to only 10 ffriggats and two smaller vessells, and whilst wee were landing of o£ treasure, they were embouldened (the ff ollowing day) to land divers of their souldiers, w^ seeming intent to intercept the same w?l? wee soone p ^vented by the advance- ing forward of oL Court of guard to incounter k confronnt them ; but for that tyme they avoyded that occasion. The next day being Sunday (ourselves all this while aboard) the Vice Kings sonne, and Capi. Moore w* about 150 souldiers, and colours flying, came the second tyme on shoare, approaching somewhat neerer to our tents then before, and in that brave manner that soone invited us to send an answerable strength of our bouldest Musketteirs, comaunded by Capl Moorton, MJL Wills, Cap! Greene, and Mji Morres themselves in person, who in very good order, and w!!? calm, also displayed, marched up towards the enemy. Haveing divided themselves into three squadrones, appointed onely one to appear in sight of y4 enemy, towards

Achar, adopted in nearly all the vernaculars of India for acid and salt relishes. — Yule's Hobson-Jobson.

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the water side, and the other two to wheele ahout behind the sand hills, that soe inviting their foe to incounter w11' the lesser noinber they might (when drawne wy?in the distance of Musket shot) rejoyne their full strength againe as they did; when as the Portuigals wholesse cautiously had opened and spread themselves in good order the full length of all their ffriggats, as they pur- posely had contrived themselves close alongst the shoare. as well for the safety of their owne people as to terifie o™ not to dare any further for dread of their great ordnance, ws* w*1} their Harquiboses a crocke usually mounted on their ffriggats sides, was yl refuge it seemes they maynely depended on. But such was the undauntednes of our English, being stirred up to a high measure of 1'urie by the hourly vexations and braveings of the enemye, as being now come w*Mn shot, w$ a generall resolution rejoyceing att the occasion, after a shot or two reef! first from the Portuigalls pushed on in the verye face & mouth of all their ffriggats and p.ceaveing that but 3 of them could use the advantage of their prowes against them, and that some of the rest were brought aground, and had only their Harquibuses a crocke to gall them, advanced forwards still plying their small shot w$ very good discipline, and the Portuigalls noe lesse valliently re- plying wii1 their double forces, as well from their ffriggats at sea, as the squadrone on shoare, but not able it seemes to endure the obstinate rage of ol people, they began to give grounds, and our most fiercely following, entered pellmell amongst them, even into the water, w!Mn lesse then pistoll shot of their ffriggats ; in w$ intrim the Vice Kings sonne was convayed aboard but soe narrowly escaped that the party who p.vided for his safety was himselfe taken prisoner in the accon : many of the English not feareing to runn up to the chin in water, even to the very sides of their ffriggats pursueing the victory w* great slaughter both at shoare and at sea, and at length returned w^ 27 Portuigalls prisoners taken alive, w<*out the losse of any more then one ancient man (a corporall), not wounded but suffocated only w^ heate and the wounding of 7 more of o*. people. This they happily p.formed in sight of Meirza Baker, and divers of these country people to their great admiration and ol nations great! honoE.. To that good God that lead them by the hand be the glorye.

The next daye to their great shame they were constrained to leave the porte ; in wSl1 intrim by the extraordinary favo! of this Governol assisting us w*!l his owne cammells and mules wee got ashoare the rest of ol treasure, and some goods of vallue, but were fane ourselves to remayne still aboard for the Governii coming downe to the Marine, who haveing rec*1 such fitting entertaymA as became his quallitie returned againe contented.

Wee gave you hopes in ol last letter of a greater convoy both of men and monyethen the condition of o L affaires w=!l now att pi sent affoard you. The sly importunyties of creditor being a hedge betwixt ol first designe and yo! necessary supplye of fitting meanes desired. All you

can expect for the pi sent, not being above rupees intended to be sent you in that specie,

by John Willoughby, Thomas Robinson and halfe a score of other English in their comp * for its better guard, whom wee hope to dispeed hence in 4 or 5 dayes at the furthest.

Our former order therefore of furnishing Agra by Ex^ from thence, more then what you have already p.formed before the receip! hereof, wee doe hereby annihilate, intending by Gods blessinge to accomplish the needf ull from this place wee hope in as ample manner as was at first designed from thence.

The backwardnes of our bussines this yeare may put yoI» in mynde to be in y • more for- ward preparednes w*Jj. carts to dispatch away yol goods, even uppon the arrivall of ol freinds aforesaid, w!$ we highly recommend to yoJL greatest care and expedition.

And in as much as at Baroch there is greate doubt made by Ml Norris Esq?? that they shal be much p.plext in the procureing of fitting carriage from thence in any convenyent tyme, for the transport of both yoi! and other goods from thence to this place, wee could wish if

12 SURAT LETTERS.

possible, that yo3 would oblige the carter of Amadavad to passe the river of Baroch and to attend the goods as farr as Rannell, though yo^ purchase the condition w1^ whatsoever allow- ance extraordinary.

By advice from Musilapatara there is little hopes of the Dutches arrivall here till the last or 20 of November att the soonest, by w^ meanes wee are likely to abide the single brunt of the Vice Kings expected forces olselves, if not otherwise carefully pi. vented ; and soe haveing been sufficiently large in our former, yet unanswered, we shall not need to insist on any other p.ticulers at p_Lsent, but commending you to God, Rest

Yol very loving ffreinds, Suratt yl 25* October 1630. THOMAS RASTELL.

JN°. SKIBBOWE.

JOSEPH HOPKINSON.

RICHARD BARBER.

JAMES BICKFORD.

ARTHUR SUFFEILD.

To Amadavad. Postscript. — At this very instant is come newes from yi. Commanders below that the last

night (being Sunday againe) about 8 of the clock, the Portuigalls put in execution their maine stratagem soe much depended on by them, and not w^out cause much feared by us, in fireing of their 4 prepared vessells chained together for the intended destruction of our fleet, but the vigi- lancie of our people directed by the Divine Providence of that greate protector that hath allwayes hetherto bestowed innumerable blessings uppon us hath pLvented the end of that great mis- cheife intended. Oil boats well manned on head of the headmost ship haveing w^L their grap- nells ready for the purpose fastened on the boats so fired, and towing two of them (still burning) on the shoare, and the other two on the sands gave happie cause of great joye in oi people for soe happie diliverance, and shame enough to our malitious enemy that hath thus basely in that kinde endeavoured ruines.

"Worpll etcl.

You cannot be unprivy to the universall callamytie of this countrye, by reason of dearth and famine, now growne to such an extreme, that wee oL_ selves are become behoulding for come even to supply or_ househould p.visions, how destitute therefore wee are of all meanes and hopes to furnish you w^ either bread, or rice from hence, let this next complaint of oJL informe you, and make you sensible of the miserye. It remaynes that you therefore put yol_ people to a shorter allowance of bisket, though you inlarge the more in flesh.

You may not expect any more then one Butt to be sent you before your departure hence for Persia, what we shall be able to p.vide in yoL absence wee cannot promise, the distillers being all of them, or the most part, w^h, their famylies departed into the p^i. of more hoped plenty, as are many thousands besides as well weavers, dyers etcl_, that puts us allmost into dispaire of a competent lading for the succeeding yeares home retourne, and yet these are but the begining of greater woe yet to come, soe beseeching God to W*J? hould his further wrath and vouchsafe a blessing on yor_ , and oL. endeavo™ ; wee comend you to His gratious favour @ rest

YoL very loving ffreinds,

Suratt yl 17* NovembL 1630. THO : RASTELL.

JNO. SKIBBOWE. JOS : HOPKINSON. RIC9_ BARBER. JAM : BICKFORD. A* : SUFFEILD.

SURAT LETTERS. 13

WorpU Etia.

Yester night being to meet this Governor now returned this second tyme from Belsara, where he hath made a finall conclusion of peace w^. the Portuigalls ; besides divers discourses occasioned by himselfe, wee had afterwards private conference w^ the Shawbander* and Herni- assee (who were actors w^ him in the treaty) and though we ascertained from their severall informations (haveing visited them each apart) that the strength of Rinf rero doth consist only of 8frigats and 2 fustoes from Muscat, and 14 others of the former rout, yet Herniassee a man of secret intelligence w*!l the Portuigalls, dit not let w^1 double itteration to importune and recomend a carefull watch a board your shipps, especially by night, as if he would seeme to intimate some practise intended, wi^ himselfe was loath to utter, and makes it still doubtfull the conjoyning of greater forces with the Vice Kinge himselfe in p.son, yet still affirmes them to be very weake and miserable but that w£^ wee are behoulding to him for advertismi is, that amongst yoil prisoners a board there is one of especiall noate and quallity, and for whose escape there is a plot already contrived, or at least now a hatching by the meanes of some Parseis or Muccadams there about Swally, who haveing correspondency w^. some of yoL owne people, have devised by their assistance and connivance either by one of yol. own lesser boate, or a small Almaded of the Portuigalls under some feigned pretence to convoy him out of yoil custody, and to this purpose here is a Portuigall Padree last night arrived, who it seemes is the man that must manage and order this procect.

Hereof it concerned us soone to forwarne you, that you not only take a course here- in for prevention but likewise to use some way, either by threat or p.mise to get the knowledge of this person for whose deliverance such care extraordinary is taken ; and to this end if all yo L prisoners were brought face to face, that each might know other by view, wee are of opinion you might finde him out, who might prove to be of greater consequence unto us, then any of us yet do imagine.

It will behove you likewise to be very circumspect in the lading of our goods now dayly sending downe, namely that you suffer not any more bales at once to be unladen at the Marine then you are able to transport a board before night, and to that effect wee think it necessary that the carts do first stopp att Swally, and there abide till you frequently enorder their coming downe according to yo £ dayly dispatches, and as wee from hence shall give direction to the carters, that they conforme themselves to this order, so on your p*®_ let there be some of care appointed to attend at Swally for the performance of this o_L direction.

In the flooring of yol. shipps "Discovery" & " Reformation" with pepy, wee pray that you spread it to such a thicknes only, as was once determined by Consultation there a board, for wee must put you in mind againe, that y_± Compl. requires not pepy at such high rates from hence, that should take up any stowage in the lieu of better goods, for that would redowne them greatly to their damage, and when you are so floored, wee pray to guesse by the p.portion you shall have then taken in, what farther quantities may be requisit for both shipps, to the filling up only of the quentings, where no other goods can be put. Likewise for Saltpeeter uppon the lading of 2 or 300 bales let us have instant notice before any more be sent downe, what quantity also will be farther necessarye to accomplish only a fitting proportion for ballast, for more then that would likewise pJljudice the Comp_i by the leaving out of

* Shabunder, from Pers. Shah-bandar, literally ' King of the Haven,' Harbour Master. This was the title of an officer at Native ports all over the Indian seas who was the chief authority with whom foreign traders and ship- masters had to transact business. He was often also head of the Customs. — Colonel Yule's Hobson — Jobson, p. 618.

The Shawbunder has his grandeur too as well as receipt of Custom for which he pays the King yearly 22,000 Thomands.— Fryer, p. 222.

b 1255—4

14 SURAT LETTERS.

better goods in its stead, soe desireing yorrr careful dilligence, and p.formance in the p^mises, wee commend both yoi and yoJr indeavol! to the blessed direction of the Almighty resting

YoZ very loving freinds, Sweat, ye^23±. November 1630. THO : RASTELL.

JN» SKIBBOW. JO»_ HOPKINSON. RIC°_ BARBER. JAM: BICKFORD. A? SUFFEILD.

POSTSCRIPT.

The vessail yL. caried these unto you though readey to saile fro' date of y%, preceeding part hereof, hath been here thus long retardated giving us oppertunity to acquaint you that y?_ ships " Loyall Merchant " and " African " had their dispatches, and sailed hence for England, ye_ 29th of yJL passed month, whose late dispeed hence, hath been occasioned by y%. devastation of this citty of Surrat lately by Sevagy, as prementioned in, obstructing all trade for many dayes and Caphalas from bringing downe our goods, and since our former date upon a rumour y* Sevagy was returning thither againe, the people all fled out of yfL towne in a greater flight then at his first coming, securing their mony & goods in y!_ Castle and Castle ditch, & vessells in y?_ river. His cruelty hath been so great in cutting off hands & heads, that the terrour of his name is become so great to these people, y*_ upon every rumour of his coming the people will bee apt to leave y«_ towne, if yL_ King take not care to secure y5? with an army.

The " Royall "Wellcome" is now lading and coming towards you. By her wee shall write you at large of what may further concerne our Masters affaires, and by her send our advices towards them, so that at present wee subscribe

Your assured loving Friends,

Swally Marine, yt 4fA Ffebm. 1663_ GEO. OXINDEN.

64 JOHN GOODIER.

HENRY GARY, GER. AUNGIER.

Right "Worp!J &c± our Hono^ Friends.

Y* Ship ^ Our humble service presented to yol_ acceptance etci, our last unto you was of y£_ 14th

A^African."'7 November past sent hence in a vessaill of yi. Country to Persia recommended to yoL, ffactors

there to forward to Alleppo, copie whereof goeth herewith, to w°h bee pleased to bee referred,

whilst wee shall according to our promise then made you proceed in responding to ye sever1".

clauses of your l£? of y?_ 24th March by y?^ " Loyall Merchant " and " Affrican."

Wee read in the front of yoL, letter y!L great expectations you have of being better dealt with in Persia grounded upon a Letter from Gombroone of y?_ 3rd May subscribed by M^_ Cradocke and Ml Cranmer, that y'L King had commaunded the Shawbunder to pay you yl_ full moyety of y?_ Customes and that both hee and the other officers were more then ordinarily respective to them. Sure wee are there hath been nothing of reall p.formance in any one particuler and wonder they so litle understood y%_. temper and dispositions of those people as to thus highten your hopes, w£^ certainly they would not have done had they thouroughly conversed w*?L the perfidious practises of y JLnation all along w* yol_ servtJL , who think themselves

SURAT LETTERS. \r,

not at all obliged in honnoL- to make good what they engage to you in verball expressions hy way of complement. And of this Ml. Cradock hath since felt y*t sad experience in y*, dishonnours and affronts put upon our people, the Shswinmder lately commaunding to Beize upon yoL, Broker and in his presence to bee most grieviously beaten y1^ hee was caried away doubtf ull of life. And yet yi_. was not sufficient, whilst hee was in his cure of y£ brusses hee had received, hearing there was hopes of recovery, sent for him againe Ruffins y *, dreg's him out of his house adding to his sores & afterwards laded him w!£_ irons and kept him close prisoner untill hee had satisfied his covetuous desires with some hundred of Romans, all this while Ml_ Cradock not being able to helpe him in y_£ least, soe insolent they are, being as it is said annimat'd by yj* Dutch, who are in great esteeme derived from their power, having 3 or 4 great ships yearly in y4 Road fro' y L_ Bay and Coast y.*. come richly laden w*Jj. all sorts of commodities, as well from those parts, as Spices, Copper, Tinn &2!L from Battavia, Japon and Samatra, w°j| makes them esteemed, but wee adispised people. Wherfore since it is soe, and yi in O.I oppinions nothing but a visible power can possibly redeeme and bring us to our former repute, wee would not that those large expences should outlive our liberties, wherby it is made yet a greater loss to you, your composition for yfL last yeares cust °. was 650 tomans which is not so much by some hundreds of pounds as hath been spent in y£_ solliciting for it. For other bussiness they have none, now y A_ you have forbidden us to trade for yoJL in y_jL or any other parte in India ; wherfore whilst yo L. bussiness is soe small there, there will need only a factour or two to be sent yearly at y|_ latter end of yiL Monzoones to demand the Customes as formerly adviced, but because it may be conclude doubtfull whether any thing will bee paid when they shall see yf. ffactory drawne off, wee are resolved to enorder them at y.1 time of heats and pestirouss aires to retire up into the Country some 15 or 20 miles and there reside and to goe no more to Spahaun, especially since it hath been so very expencive w*£out any fruites, for although Ettamon Doulett should consent yiL Ki? should grant a mandate upon his serves at port in your favour, yjj_ procury whereof hath been both too frequently and sufficiently expencive to you wee doe not find it regarded, w<* makes us beleeve there is private contradictions given out in such cases, elce would they not dare to disobey them so publiquely. All this considered & weighed nothing can possible bee done to y • purpose, unless you express your dislike in a hostile way, w^L Ml. Cradock hath often sollicited us too, giving his opinion y_L with small force it is very facile to bring them to a speedy sence of their wronges done you, and doubts not of a conclusion to consent, but wee doe differ from him in judgment conceiving it to bee much more difficult then hee opinn's it, for wee doe conclude it may involve you into these following inconveniences and bee likewise expencive. Ffirst, it may bee very reasonably suspected whither yJL King will so suddenly conclude an article with you, nay wee beleeve if there bee any demands of moneies for arreares, hee will stand out it may bee two three or more yeares, for hee hath no shipping and y4 merch*L. that resort thither are general- ly natives of yJL country, and yet a ffleete must bee maintained if you once engage to block up his port that no bennefitt bee made off. Secondly, your force must bee considerable that yJ3 Dutch may not bafle you, which their insolency and pride will undoubtedly attempt to doe to make themselves appeare great and to ingross the whole trade, for if so strong they will transport all merely goods, and then what need of amity with our nation. Thirdly, it may cause a breach betwene these dominiones and you, when this King shall bee acquainted with y e obstructing his merchants in their trade and ruine of his port, w^ for a while will certainly happen, and therfore must bee provided for if yJL King should bee by their meanes incensed, wS^ the Dutche will forward what possible to a breach leaving noe stratagemes un- attempted to bring their ends about, and also to keep us out when they have done, which will bee very destructive, when it shall bee considered that you have no manner of footing or settle- ment here in India, soe y_^ your trade out and home may bee stopped for a time, w^t having well

16 SUBAT LETTERS.

considered had wee (as wee have not) shipping &?*_ sufficient for such an enterprice, we should not presume to engage you in a bussiness of so great moment as things may succeed without first having yoJL possetive orders for it, and so much wee have adviced Mr_ Cradock etc. wishing them to informe you in all matters which wee hope hee hath or will doe. As also will bee able to maintaine his charge against Mi; Andrewes in y_L abuse done you in giving his ship y±. start ofjy *. " Hopewell" so much to your prejudice. Yi_ffreight y*. hee made of your pepper laden aboard y_L " Ormous" you will find entred in folio 33 in your Journal! P ; for which hee is acoun table to you and likewise yl. ingrossing y^. freight backe, but here not having y^ copie of Mi, Cradocks lEito yoJi wee know not w.*_ furthiL to ansil .

What you write us of Ml. Revington we have in a formiL longe since spoake to, and by wl wee can gather there was more of passion then reason in y_£ differences yi_ did arise, but death hath parted them and therf ore have onely this to say y*_ y4 surviveing ps£B hath yJL advantage as uncontrould, wheras if God had pleased to spare y_?_ other by what wee cann learne hee would have approv'd himself deserving your service, those surviving as Mil Rand Taylor, Mil Richard Taylor, Ml_ Gyffard and M % Fferrand, wee have since redeemed. The condition of Rajapore and y_? Inland Marcs being now in a confused manner in y?_ possession of Rebells and daily new commotions in y%^ land doth diswade us from engageing ourselves in comearce for wee can have no other assurance then y*_ word of a Chief e or a Rebell, and soe wee leave them untill wee shall have a further occasion to speake of those people and the condition they are in at present.

The next clause is the decearting yo£_ two ffactories of Agra and Ahmadavad, yJL latter is neare to us wherfore wee may safely undertake to fullfill your commaunds, but y_* of Agra being remote, and y_£ goods required for y*. Europe Marketts to bee more exactly sorted, as also yJL cure to bee different, if but only in this for Persia, Bussora and Mocha if not starcht slickt and beat soe as they appeare as slickt paper they are not vendeable, besides they looke not y_*_ they should bee of an equall sortement either in goodnesse or lengthes or breadths, but carry onely these distinctions 16, 18 & 20 coveds* and by y_* they are sold, where- as yJL linnen drapers with you, except if over stearcht over beat, or against any peece y.* shall want of its pretended goodness length or breadth, w<* is not observed here, wherfore you must have them bought peece by peece browne and nombred before they are delivered to yiL washers, for wch reasons wee doe declare it impossible to furnish you from Surrat as you require in your lie by your President of yJL 191* March 1661, nor can you contract for them att a sett price as you require, except to such disadvantagious termes as in reason wee ought not to subscribe inyo.L behalf; and yet this wee say doth not tend to yJL putting yoJL to yiL charge of a ffactJL but that you would please to permitt us to runn a common adventure with other Merchants, for wee have from y_± time of our first coming made strickt inquisition but never could purchase one hundred pounds worth of either Mercoles or Diareabands in yJL towne of Surrat since wee have binn here, and if we had not made yJL breach of your order in timely bespeaking what wee have procured for you (for which wee begg pardon) you had not had a peece of neither this yeare, and wheras you propound in yours of yJL 25* August, and againe minde us in these yoiL last advices in case wee cannot provide the two aforesaid sorts to cause our weavers to receive cloth of yJL dimentions they use to bee off, which wee have propounded to them, but none will undertake it except wee will first pay for y iL altering of their loomes and also their owne rates w°h_ are soe extravagant yj_ wee were quite discouraged especially in regard there were but a very few y *_ would undertake it, they being full of other imploym J:

* Measures of Surat are only two (1) the Lesser Goveld, and (2) the Greater Co-veld. The former is of 27 inches and the latter of 36 inches. By the first are sold all things (except Broad-cloth, Velvet, and Satin, which are sold per English yard) ; by the other, the foresaid goods in all other places.— Fryer's Travels, 206.

SUE AT LETTERS. 17

in weaving sundry sorts of goods for y_± Marketts of Mocha, Persia, Bussora, Acheene &<ia that if wee doe not engage them hy impresting moneies before hand, wee should not gett halfe the Callicoes wee send you.

Wee have since our coming hether heard sad complaints of the scarcety of moneies, and y± M r Andrewes could not procure at some times sufficient to pay Butcher and Baker yj_ serv'd the house, or your household servants w5JL was occasioned a great deale by dispearcing your estates in voyages and building, but chiefly by his ill usage of those y^. deale in exchanges and his unmarchantlike behaviour to all y *. had any dealings with him ; but those complaints are over by your large suplies to us, vr^L wee doe not doubt but in a very shorte time to make appeare much to your profltt, promissing our observance of yoJL commands in keeping yoJL stock together for y±_ improvement of yo_L investmj?. in the inland ffactories, when wee shall bee happied w*£_ yo_r. orders overland, and not imbeazle it contrary to your express commands. But now y *_ wee pilceive wee shall have some considerable stock remayning, although wee have endeavoured and used y • best meanes wee can toreturne your ships with consider- able cargoes y_}L wee have not left any thing remaining in towne propper for y.£_ Europe marketts, noe not a booke of Bafcaes, Diareabands, or Mercollee, whose scarcety as said, hath left remaining with us more y.1;, wee are willing to keepe from you, and yet our care shall bee you be no looser, for wee are intended soe soone as your ships have their dispatches to commence our investments for yJL next yeare in all places and for all commodities, knowing y.*_ you have a yearly occasion for some of every sorte especially those y *_ are procurable most remote as Agra for Diareabands and Mercollees, and y ^ rather because wee could not possibly procure y •_ quanteties you enorder'd yjj last yeare.

The differences betwixt Mil Gary and Mi: Widdrington &iL wee have examined and find y e allegations in y_? major part pretences of w_<L Mj* Gary would have done rather y_? afformations w_*. hee actually did, what in right belonged to you hee hath here made satisfac- tion for w^ is brought into yoiL cash as also w_*L moneies hee had taken over and above yJL thirds of sallery due to him, y_?_ other being but objections they charge him with malliciously exhibited through differences yl_ did arrise amongst them. MlJWiddrington returned thence whose time being expired was by us granted upon his petition and request to returne to you by way of yJL Coast, the other Clapton by name remaines still at Acheene whether yoJL ffrigatt •' Vine" is voyaged upon acco_*_ of ffraught where one is Ml_ Scrivener and Mil Nurse w^ orders to receive acc^. fro' Mil Cobb, and bring all away. As for Clapton hee is none of yoiL servant, yet having been entertained as one by M_E_ Andrewes and soe officiated some yeares wee have permitted him to remaine in yJL house and returne with them. This is yJL only adventure now standing out in India, w^L, if wee once graspe, wee againe promise not to part w*)L but in observance to your orders.

M E . Gary hath desired us to joine with him to bee humble suters to you to consider his condition, having at times served you upwards of 19 yeares in w°h time hee never received more then a third of his sallery, by which meanes yJL severall stocks and voyages made are greatly indebted unto him, wherfore they being all cleared off (and a new subscription and company established by Charter whose servant hee now is) his request is y *_ hee may have his full sallary satisfied to his assignes for his past service ; & y^_ rather in regard his ffamily is here in y±_ Country soe y_i hee cannot returne to demand it, w£^_, if you please to grant, he promises to deserve it in his future service.

In observance of yoiL Commands wee shall here proceed to give you an accoJL of yi_- monies MJL Buckeridge paid in to your stocke belonging to Collonell Rainsfords estate, which is thus, at yJL Collonells going for Muskatt hee had severall sumes of moneyes paid unto him

b 1255—5

18 SURAT LETTERS.

out of your cash by order, Two thousand Rupees wherof was invested in goods by Hodgee Gossee, who voyadging with him was pl_ mitted to put in for his p£_ Rup JL7 1 5: 00 p JLw^with all charges amounted to rup_i 832-2| p_L, and y.* it did really belong to him doth appeare by y_^ Collonels last will and Testament said to bee in MJL Andrewes custody, which least hee should not produce its copie, was taken here attested, w^L wee now send you. As to what belongs to you wee have stated y 1_ acco*?. in yoJL gen?>_ bookes to which wee ref err you, and also y?_ invoice of y*. goods now rec^_ from the said Hodgee Gossee in English, and a certificate under MJL Buckeridge hand declaring yJL said Gossees right, w<* hee humbly beseeches you for, the monies not being his owne but taken up at interest for which hee is at present in great trouble. Dealdas pretendeth to Rupees 4870^ as by an Inclosed Invoice and an Attestation here with sent doth appeare, and last of all there is one Bimgee that hath a bill of Collonell Rainsfords for 5976 : 00 Ms.* makes ru : 265600, which bill was sent to your President Sl_ Geo Oxinden by Cap.L Robert Browne supposing him to bee in England, which the said Cap _fc_ Browne can produce if you please to require it of him, and these are yJL present debts to satisfie w£*L you will find him to have creditt in your bookes rupJL 6695: 34 pice cleare, yoJL, acco** and demands satisfied, yJL disposure whereof wee shall waite & observe your order. It is very well knowne to all y_i people by y & sevii. declarations hath from time to time been sett up at y_* custome- house dores & other eminent places in yiL citty both in Banian & Persian, wherby you disengage yourselves from being responceable for your servants particular debts, yet wee doe feare at one time or other your bussiness will bee obstructed upon some neck of time for such their unwarrantable sending, as it was very lately in ML. Andrews time, when yoJL Amadavad Caphala was stopt, and yJL. goods not suffered to bee laden on the carts untill satisfaction was made out of your Cash for a particuler bill of debt Ml. Anth_°_ Smith left unpaid w"_ he voyaged to Mocha for w<* hee is still your debtour, but wee shall shortly account with him having stopt some monies to preserve you undemnified. However it is to our great concent that you are pleased to give y oil selves the trouble of endeavouring y?_ Natives right, whose credulity hath undone many of them. Wee are joyed your resolutions to supply your ffactories with plentifull stockes and therby to have no further occasion to use your creditt, w5^ wee doe not in the least doubt but wee shall find as good as ever when tryall shall bee made ; for y JL further satisfaction you will find in folio 9 & 10 of yJL Journall yJL Muskatt Voyage acc_<L cleared w<& ever since 1659 hath remained in your books unaltered, though it was well knowne to your former serv^! where yiL money lay, w5*L with interest is put to yJL deceased Henry Rainsfords acco4,of w5*L M.L Andrewes might have given you timely advice in Anno 1661, but wee suppose hee loves to see himself paid first, but of these and other his unwarantable actings wee have much more to say and therfore shall leave it to an af tJL clause.

It pleased God to arrive your Surrat Frigatt from Bantam the 4*£. of December. Shee hath had a tedious voyage being upwards of 3^ monthes upon yJL way. Coppie of their letter and abstract of her cargoe accompany these. Wee are in y JL provition of another cargJL answerable to that sent last yeare by yiL " Convertine" w* they advice us is very proper for those marketts. Wee doe use all possible dilligence for an early dispatch hence that if possible shee may give a Maccassar voyage.

Your ffactories of Carwarr and Porquatt are continued but to very litle purpose to you. The first hath had in Lead, Broad-cloth, Brimstone &«* upwards of 6000!^ lodged

* Mamoodoes are current only in Sui'at, and parts adjacent ; they are worth somewhat less than an English shil- ling, but are so accounted in the Company's books ; and among merchants in the country, 2\ mamoodoes is reckoned a rupee. Yet to change mamoodoes into rupees, there is sometimes given three, sometimes 8 or 10 mamoodoes on the 100 rupees, according to their plenty or scarcity, or as the Governor or Banyans please to advance the Cam bis, which is called among them Vattan. In Anno 1663 was given 20 Mam. per cent. — Fryer's Travels, ch. via, p. 20o.

SURAT LETTERS. 19

there yJL last yeare, designed in expectation of large quantities of pepper, Cardamons and dungarees, but, as in our last, yJL generic commotions all y_)L Coast along hath not only impeaded trade, but strucke such a terrour into all merchants, that they were constraigned to provide for their safety by flight up remote in y*.. country. But in hopes it may bee better for y •. future by yJL sessation of warrs and reconsilliation of differences amongst them, y • ffactory is continued. That of Porquatt is yet worse, whose accoJ>L wee expect more fully in a few daies, and then wee shall give it you at large in an after sexion.

Wee respectively take notice of yoiL commaunds to us on what tearmes you would have y £_ exchanges for moneies taken into your Cash, drawne on you, w£*L shall bee punctually observed in y.i. conditiones that they who shall require such bills undergoe yiL. adventure home upon such ships of yours as shall then voyage for England.

Wee have already by yJL " Convertine" given you an acco_l_ of your servant Bladwell, who is for his denying to bee accountable to us, together with his other misdemean_£. in running away and wronges done you returned a prisioner hoping you will make him an example and therby deterr others from such insolencies and knavish practices for the future.

Wee observe you are pleased to gratefie yoJL serv_*L S_L Geo. Oxinden in his request to you from the Madera Islands concerning your sending out no more ffactors, wee being at present plentifully suplied, and shall make it oJL care to give you timely information when any shall bee wanting to you.

Wee doe most humbly thanke you for your spirituall care of our soules in supplying us with a Minister, hee hath now lived some monthes amongst us to our great comfort, Ms com- portment being sober and becoming his function and call to devine and holy orders that wee doe not att all question our future comfort and happinesse from his piety and sollid behaviour.

A Butt of Arracks shall bee sent for 8:*. Helena and indico seed, but wee cannot by any meanes procure a black to sow it; the sheeps wee have wrote to ML_ Cradocke to procure male and female from Persia of those y_*_ have curld wooll, w5*i shall bee sent by yJL next shipps, and deare also, but by Cap 4 Millet in yJL " Loyall Merchant " wee doe now send several! seeds of roots and plants for food.

In our last to Persia unto M.I Cradock &% copie wherof being herewith sent you will find y .* wee have prest yo_r_ commands on them, and sent them yJL copie of your objections against their exorbitant and extravagant expences, requiring more frugallity, w£*L indeed hath been our discourses to them all along from yJL time that wee your President and Councell have arrived hither, being much amazed at y * totall of their disbursments of all kinds, which have amounted to upwards of 2000 lb. by Annum, having no more yJL 4 or 5 in family, and considering y * their journeing up and downe from port to Spahaun and backe againe is a great cause thereof and y_£_ fruitless sollicitation y_k_ have binn made to y.*- King and Court, who stop their eares to every thing y^ may never soe litle bee disadvantagious to them, or at yj*. best if heard, nothing of reallity in its performance was ever granted, wherfore wee have propounded to yo_L ffactors there in yJL time of heates and pestelentions to remove some 15 or 20 miles where it is more temperate and agreeing w**L their constitutions, and there to reside untill yJL time of reparing to porte againe, which put in practice a yeare or two, w_E the King and Court sh'Jl find y*^. their delaies and p_fidious dealings hath cast us into despaire of reaping any favour and yL they are neglected, wee say p_chance it may move yJL King and Court to a sence of our sufferings, and also bee more cordiall in removing our grievances and if not it will save you money in your purse, which, as now matters stands, is but flun^ away upon them ; for if you will have our oppiniones what they doe in affronts and abuses to your servants is, but to weary you out and to begett a difference therby to raise a Just

20 SURAT LETTERS.

pretence to out you of your Royalty of customes, which must bee seriously weighed and considered when you shall think good to make your claime by force of armes, and not bee to adduluous y*__ a yeare or a few monthes will doe the bussiness, that is there to bee brought about.

Wee have acquainted our friends at yi- Coast concerning Samuel Croplyes Estate and sent them y4L clause of yol letter for their observants of your commands.

Mr_ Edward Fflyers estate what was remaining here was in the custody of Mrr Mathew Gray which hee hath paid in to Mr_ Ffrancis Ellaby Purser of y^ "Convertine" being empowered therunto by vertue of a letter of Atturney grants by his Execute. Ml_ Ralph Fflyer.

And thus wee have responded to y"L severall clauses of your letter, excepting some wilfull omisions, w°*L will fall into y*_ tract of what wee have further to discourse in your bus- siness, wherin first wee shall beginne, and speake to y"L Cargoe now consigned you by your "Loyall Merchant" and "Affrican," observing y«L method and order you sett downe in yours of the 25$. August.

40 Tunns seedlack you require, w?Jl wee have been in the provition of ever since y!L arivall of your letter to us, but can purchase no more then 25 Tonns or thereabouts.

Stick lack wee send you 63 Tonns or thereabout, wee have made it our care y!L the Spike- nard now sent you being 85 bales bee throughly Garbled and y!L flags dust and trash taken out, for soe wee acquainted our Broker who promised complyance to our orders and yL hee bought none but such as was new and bufted.

Tincall wee could procure none good at y!_ price you sett us and therfore not any.

Alloes Sockratina wee have procured about 11 tunns, wee have seene it, and doubt not but it will answere your approbation, it being very good and much cheaper then you commissionate us to buy it at ; this not standing you here above 9d p. lb. wee have made up for tryall 10 parcells in raw hides wc^ doth binde and keepe it close together, and so is much better of stowage, and wee opine there will bee lesse losse of waight then yi_ wc2l is put up in chests, w?i is not only very chargeable, but yl nature of it being to turne liquid and runne at the change of ayre and climats it is impossible to keepe yf_ skinns apart, so that as to this particuler (which wee know is esteemed in England but not to bee prevented) it is all

a case whether in Chest or wherefore wee desire your Judgments herein for the future, in

regard the stowage of Chests is nothing neare soe good.

Here being a parcell of Alloes Hepatica or Gebelly extraordinary good of yl. kinde and as very cheape wee were persuaded to buy it for your Acco^. It is made up in 33 parcells skin'd.

Shell Lack notwithstanding our utmost diligence wee could gett noe more made then 19 tunns or thereabout.

Turmerick is very scarce, wee could procure no more then 55 bales in yL_ towne and is all in the country hereabout.

Cowryes wee have enlarged upon, for ye_ supply of Kintedge saltpeter not being to be had at y5- rates sett us,.

Sena you require if fresh and greene, and meeting with such much under yl_ price you limitt us w^L is 35 p. cent, this not standing you in above 23 p. cent, garble from y*, stalkes yt_ best we can, w^ haling soe cheape did persuade us to enlarge y*__ quantety to 61 bales.

Coho Seed 20 tunns or therabout wee send yoH_ fresh and good procured at Mocha by a person wee contracted with, it is reasonable cheape, but you might have had it under, could wee with safetie have adventured for you, but you possitively command y?_ contrary.

SURAT LETTERS. 21

Mirh is sent you twixt 7 and 8 tunns, it is the best and all procurable in Towne.

Oamphier refined wee have sent you over and above y?__ quantity you required being necessitated therto, otherwise could wee have sent you none ; y%_ merchant that had it declar- ing y* hee would not sell any part of it but the whole parcell togeather.

Wee have had answerefrom Ml^ Cradocke &e... yoL,. Ffactors in Persia who advice Goats wooll not to bee procurable but att farr greater rates then you advice to us, w°Jl is 8d of the best sorte, wheras 10d will not purchase it besides charges.

Cinnamon of any sorte is not by any meanes to bee purchas'd nor can you expect any from henceforward now y!L y?-T Hollands, is Master of Cochin.

Wee account ourselves fortunate in yo!_ behalf y!L wee have this yeare procured for you a hundred and thirty or fourty tunns of pepp*. w?)l if Batticolla had failed us, would have been impossible to gett all y!_ coast along from North to South ; it cost you first quality neare 6d p. pound soe strangely is y£^ price of pepper risen already all these places over, y*, wch was formerly in this towne for 9-10 and when at y°r deerest 11 ** p. maund is now at 18 and 20, and supposed to bee at a farr greater rate within a few yeares more, for ye_ Dutch intend to make it their owne, as absolute as the spices of nutts and mace, and to y*_ intent have in their passes they give to yl_ vessaills that trade to and fro prohibited all cotton and ophium to bee transported downe y2— coast ye_ two great commodities vendable up1!, y«L Coast of Mallabarr, and all pepper and Cassia Lignum to be broug1^ thence, yl,. wee leave you to Judge w*_- expectations you can have of yoL, servtsL ever hereafter procuring any of these goods for you, and therfore it is our duties to acquaint you thus much y*, you make provition accord- ingly in your Charter parties to endemnifie you, for wee declare it two to one yl_ you gott any pepper this yeare, and y?_ odds is more y°r next, for if y*_. Dutch doe concract with y%. King of Batticolla for his magazines of pepper it is impossible for you to have any in the future.

Salt peter wee could procure yo?_ no more then 56 bales cont^. twixt 8 and 9 tunns at yl. rates you confine us to, and this was accidentally purchased, wherfore it is needfull wee advice you so much, in regard you doe usually oblidge yourselves in Chart partie to lade a considerable quantety of these two commodities pepper and peeter, w* when wee faile of, cause th ye_ sev1!. command1?, of your fraighted ships to give us much trouble by y*L discon- tent they express to us, when as our obedience is to you in yl_ observing your orders ; wherfore it would very much reconsile us to them if you would bee pleased to nominate in Charter p& what goods they are wc*L you ace*— for kintaledge, for they will understand none to bee ac- counted kintaledge but such as are reckoned at 20 hundred to ye_ tonne.

Cot ten yarne wee send your desired quantety ; wee have been neerest 10 mo'A' buying it, in keeping a dayly markett for y«L. buying of it in by small p ^ cells as it was brought in from yl^. villages,'y*_ wee hope our care and paines will appeare in its goodness and well sortements, persuading ourselves it will prove better y°r what yo^ have received hence in former yeares which you will wonder at when you are informed yV. cotten 80 p. cent dearer y"_ usuall and all corne at double yl^ rate here, very litle raine falling y8-. last yeare not sufficient to pro- duce corne except in some particuler places and there not more then halfe and quarter crops ; and yet wee presume from our endeavours and yfL. honest dealings of those y*_ have bine implied in your service not only to recommend yl_ yarne but the Tapsells broad and narrow to bee better both in goodness, coulours & condition, then those were wont to bee sent you. and yet notwithstanding y%. dearness of cotten and dearth of corne &^L they are also con- siderably cheaper, besides they are full lengthes and breadthes w<* you were not wont to have, that by calculation wee reckone you have in yi_ whole pi^ceU f°r nothing 45000 con*!? cloth over and above the dimentions of those formerly sent you ; the like in all respects are y%, b 1255—6

22 SUE AT LETTERS.

Brawles, Birds eyes, Necanees, Gunny stuff, &^ , w* please to lett ye^ drapers bee adviced of and wee doubt not but they will advance accordingly.

Wee were necessitated to bespeake y?^ cloth yl_made the Chints and Quilts broad and narrow at Amad!L, w?k wee are encouraged to by ye_ p% unto whose care they were committed ; yo*. will like them not onely in their lengthes & breadthes but also in their cure, and being done according to your directions in sma ;_ flowers p!*. white p*« red grounds as exprest in y*. Invoice ; they exceed some thing in lengthes and breadthes of w* , you adviced.

Wee have had a continued investm*— in all places round where weavours inhabit y*L_ wee might comply with y!L_ quanteties you require of us, in broad and nar2_ Bafcas* and Sonugure Bafcas, settling buyers, at Neriad, Brodra, Daboy, Baroach, Uncleseare, heere in Surrat, Nunsary, Gundavy etcl_ and yet cannot attaine to ye__ quanteties you write for, one great obstacle is our stricktnesse and severity to y!*. in keeping them to their true lengthes & breadthes, which they would with less trouble have been brought to, were it not for other buyers y*_ stand not so much upon it as wee doe, especially our never failing obstructers ye_ Dutch wl_ looke neither to thick or thin, broad or narrow, and they want not above halfe or three quartL_ of a yl_ in lengthe and two or two and half inches in breadth, w^jL makes us thinke sometimes that they doe it on purpose to wary us out and hinder our buying any. What of these sortes wee could get togeather, wee dare recommend, not doubting of yor_^ approbation if yo"L are but pleased to allow us measure for y?_ necessituous times wee now labour in, wheras if it had pleased God to have opened yfL heavens y*. y". earth might have been refresht with those fruitfull showers, wc*L yi. season did require y*. the earth might have yielded her increase as usuall, wee had certainly exprest our service in a more acceptable manner in yi. cheapness of your goods, w°]L notwithstanding what hath bine said wee maintaine to bee better and cheap purchas'd for you then in former yeares. Besides you have many thous"L of conli of cloth in y* addition of lengthes and breadthes yi cost you nothing, and therefore wee hope they will sell the better.

You propound the contracting with a p^son herein Surrt., with whom you would have us make a sett bargaine for y*. quanteties of Dieriabandst and Mercooles, w^ wee have endeavoured w^Lout success ; for here is no body y*_. will oblidge himself to such performance, their objections are y*_ goods are not allwaise at one price, oft times they rise by y« scarcety of cotten or come, and likewise goods bought are obstructed in their transport by yl mortallity of princes, when the people rise to robb and plunder not only upon y% road but great townes and villages, and many more objections. Besides they demand 20 or 30 thousand rup!_ in hand to binde us to receive y*. goods, soe yl. they will not undertake it except they are sure to make a certaine profitt, and yl soe considerable y<L were there goods brought out of y* country as in former times, wee should buy them much cheaper then they will contract with you here, for from y* time of our arrivall to this day wee could not buy a hundred peeces of Dieriabands or any other Agra cloth, which wee suspected by w*_ wee found last yeare, and therfore continued ye. provition of wL. wee now send you of Dieriabands broad and narrow, Mercolleese, Echbarees, else had you not had a peece ; but this was not done without some adventure, w£lL wee were constraigned to undergoe in yor- behalfes, although wee were very seencible where yi loss

♦Bafcas for Baftas. A kind of calico made especially at Broach from the Persian Bafta woven. — " Broch Baft as broad and narrow". Fryer 86, Yule's Hobson-Jobson.

t" Nearly every village in India under the Company's monopoly manufactured piece-goods and these commonly were called after the village where they were made." Sir George Birdwood's Report on the Miscellaneous Old Records of the India Office, 1879. Colonel Yule writes : — " Nothing is harder than to find intelligible explanations of the distinction between the numerous varieties of cotton stuffs formerly exported from India to Europe under a still greater variety of names; names and trade being generally alike obsolete." — Hobson-Jobson.

SURAT LETTERS. 23

would have fallen, since yo'L. told us a way y* none will undertake except to such disadvantage to yo'L as wee may not suffer, whilst wee may prevent them. Wee hope yf-successewee have had, and yL profitt y* will arrise to you in y« sale of these goods in Europe will persuade with you to give us some more liberty for y° future in leaving to us to contrive y° best meanes for the procury of such goods as you shall require from us, for had we followed the letter of your comission wee could not have done w*.. wee have, although y0^ rises on your or our sides was not great, for wee ensured them from place to place, untill they arrived to us wc_^ hath some- what lightened their prices, wee have p_used yl goods and are satisfied they are a quality worth y*_ would make you gain** were wee to sell them to y* people of y° country for these marketts as propper for Persia &c» ; only thus much wee shall desire you to take notice of as well in these as all other goods of Ahmadavad, Neriad, Brodera, Daboy, Baroach, and Unclaseer y*_ all ye. charges y*_ ever you have bene at is included in y!_ price of the goods, w<£ if not understood may make them seeme deare compared with goods formerly sent you, wcJl never bore their reall charges of y!_ factoE? y!L were imploied to provide them ; but was charged a p*_ in a pL. of books kept, that were afterwards brought into your generall bookes under yl heads of charges of Merch* , House expences, AccoL presents, accol Interest, sallery, ws£ had they bine put into yl cost of y« goods Invoiced to you as here wee now have done on all y% goods of yl above said places ye_ very charges exceeded yf. investments as wee found to our sorrow at our arrivall here, and wee are persuaded did also deceave your expectations at their sale, you supposing yo^selves greater gainers then you really were if all had been charged, whereas you have no more to add to these goods then y* customes and fraught and those other ordinary disburcemtf at home with you.

And thus having spoke to yt goods now sent yo?_, wee shall speake to yf. list wee send you of what is vendable with us, wheron you will find wee have enlarged in consideration of yt trouble you have in procury of silver there, as also yl losse you sustaine whethL by y» kna- very of these sheroffes or ye- high prices it cost in England. As for these people y*. buy it wee use all possible meanes to prevent them by making private assayes, as adviced in our last overland, wheras y* following goods will advance if well bought being here vendable vizi,

Lead you may send us 20000 m^i whose price at pres*. 5 rupees p. maund and soe much wee hope will sell.

Copper 10000 md_i will vend; y* prices twixt 20 to 22 rup», p. nr? of those un wrought plates sent out last by ye. " Rich :" and " Martha " in 1662.

Broad cloth but 1000 hal peeces wherof 600 redds but noe stamells, and 400 greenes may yield you 5 rupsT p. yard, and if you please 500 HerbL in sup fine scarlets and popinjary and grass greene.

Corrall if to be had y*. best rates at Levorne of Gressio Recadutty Teraglia Barbarisco here may sell to y* amount of 40000 rupees but it must bee well bought.

Allum 2000 m^i that sent out y» yeare wee have sold already at 4| rupi p. md. so much will vend but pray cause it to bee better made up for y? barrells are slight and w% y« drigt of yl hould ye hoopes falling of the barrells fall asunder wherby yo» sustaine loss in weig*

Brimstone some 2000 Rupf wourth will bee as much as will vend and that at 2 rup! to 2^ rup'L per maund.

Quicksilver 300 m1^ may sell from 85 to 90 rup!, and soe wee have sold all y^_ you now sent out and y*. which was sent us fro' Bantam ; it comes all rated to us at 4 p. pound but wee hope it did not cost yol so much and then your profitt will bee better.

Vermelion 500 m4? may sell at yl rate y% quicksilver doth.

24 SURAT LETTERS.

Ellaphents Teeth rupl wourth will sell at yi rate of 25 to 28 rupi. p. md. ;

wee adviced you of yl mannl how they are sold in our letter to you yl 6^1 March last, to witt, y^ they make 3 distinctions all over and above 16 & 16 s^. w*L are at 40 sear to y* ma^ those fro' 10 to 16 are 60 sri. to y%. rn^l and those of 10 s?L and under are allowed 80 seare to yl mand w?^ please to take into yoll consideration when you buy any.

Tynn 10000 m<^ will readily sell at 15 rupl p. md_if such as hath now bene sent us from Bantam in yol Surratt Ffrigatt, w* they Invoice to us at 17 Ryals yl, Cwl ; they come in long narrow thin pecees yi. would bend or bow any way and crockle at the bending wcJl is yl proofe they make of its goodness, it was stampt w^L yl Rose and Orowne, this is a very ready commodity.

Anchours 10 or 15 for suply of ye_ Kings Jounckes, they must bee of 110 mdi. each of thereabouts for woh_ you receive 8 rupl p. md.

Yellow Amber cannot bee valued and its prices being both there and here according to its wourth both in bigness etc. Of this wee beleeve to yl amol of 10000 rupl may vend to profit if bougt. at the best hand.

All these above said goods thus inlisted unto yoE. & inlarg'd upon for your better sa- tisfaction, will if provided at y*. severall places of their grougth and product where you may certainely have them at 15 & 20 p, cent, cheap then at yl. second or third hand, wee say these said goods thus bought will all vend suddainely and to considerable advance, and take of yl trouble fro' you of procuring plate by w^h you are alwaise certaine loosers for wee compute yl above said list to amol to twixt fifty and sixty thousand pounds starling.

Just as wee had proceeded thusfarr, being yl_ 6th Jan£,ylday appointed for our goingto Swally to hasten y? ships despatcht, some 3 or 4 howers before our intentions to proceed on our journey, was brought us a hott allarum yi Sevagy y° grand rebell of Decan was within 10 or 15 miles of yi towne. This suddaine surprise strucke such a terrour into all, both men, women and children, that this Governor and y| rest of the Kings Ministers and eminent merchants betooke themselves to yl Castle; w?t yl. townes folkes perceaving, left their houses and whatever belonged to them and fled with their wives and children, some upon y!_ river in vessails and boats some to the out villages, yi- in a few howers yi. whole towne was dispeopled, excepting y * parte of ye. towne about us, in hopes of our protection. Wee presently sent for 40 men from ye shipps to our assistance, y *.came to us yfL next morning early, with w°™ wee your Ffact^ servants joined and having drawne y!5 out in ranke and file with drum and trumpett yoi Presid*- in the head march^ through ye_ body of y* towne toy! Greene before yi_ Castle, where y£r Govern our was ready to pop in upon the first notice of their approach. Wee past close by him and so marcht on tak- ing a great circle round that y£ ennemy was at the gates before wee could reach our house. The next neuse was the rebell had sent two men and a letter requiring ye, Goverr. Hodgee Saied Beague, Virgy Vora and Hodgee Cazum the 3 eminent merchants and monied men in towne to come to him in p^son immediately and conclude with him else he immediately threatend yl whole towne with fire and sword, which hee presently put in practise not receiving a present answere; and y* day being the 5% at night uninterupted comes before y? Castle and entrencht himself and with his musketeers began to play upon ye Castle, wee beleeve w!| noe expectations to take it, but to keep in, & frighten yj Governour and y% rest y* had gott in, as also y£_ souldr_s of the Castle from sallying out upon them, whilst yi others plundered & fired. In this interim ML- Anthony Smith coming from Swally was mett with and caried to Sevagy (for it is certainly believ'd it was hee in person), who tooke 300 rupl ransome of him, & sent him yer next day to menace us, but before that we had reel many threats. But wee still bidd him keepe his people out of yl reach of ol gunns elce wee would shoote them. Hee returned answere wee were frls, wee. replied if soe why did hee detaine an English man, take a horse out of our stable and make

SURAT LETTERS. 25

fences of your goods yl lay before y?, coustume house; and also suffered them to bee plundered; all these things spoake him an ennemy, & therfore yt Presidi returned answere wee would not trust him or admitt of any further treaty and therfore hee should send us noe more messages, and if hee did wee would kill y% messenger.

We had almost omitted to lett you know amongst these Embassies hee sent to us to demand hommage, w^} wee presently concluded was to surrender all wee had, and y\ a part would not serve his turne, and y . if wee refused it hee would raise our house to ye ground, and not spare a life. Wee replyed wee were here on purpose to maintaine your house to y" death of yfT last man & therfore not to delay his coming upon us ; by yt_ time he had broken Hodjy Saed Beague's house open, and had one nightes entire plunder out of it, w^ being soe very nearo us, as one wall to part both houses, wee feard they would strengthen y±_ place & afterward annoy us, and by their multitudes force their way or undermine and blow us up and y* seeing they did begin with their horse and foote to sorround us, some then standing under our ewes for noe good, wee caused a p*X of Foote to sally forth yt_ house and fight them ; in wsli scufell wee had 3 men slightly wounded, ours sleu a horse and man, some say two or three, but wee routed them. Y! good success annimated us yet further to cleare our quarters of yj|», and hearing they had taken their randavous in aMuskeett or Moore Church joyning close to our house, and also in Hodgy Saeds house warehouses, having out of feare of us not done him yi_ quarter of y* mischiefe they intended him. Whilst our men were clearing yt Muskeett they in yt. house and warehouses opened yt doores and fled, soe wee shutt up y!_ doores and barracadoed them, and made a passage from our into his house, and kept a Garrison in a Belcony that cleared all y • streat and garded ye. other house of yl Hodgies. When y 1 Rebell had heard what was past of yl. killing & routing his guards hee falls a threatning Ml. Smith, some time with yl. loss of his head and some times to cutt of his hand, & at last causes him to write a noate to y» Presid^ that if wee persisted in fighting against him hee would race our house to yt ground and bee our destruc- tion. By y » time wee had more assistance fromyt, shipps wherfore yl Preside wrote Mr_ Smith, wee would prosecut w^ wee had begun, and not at all moved at his threate requring him to save the labour of his serv^! running to & fro on messages, and come himself, with all his army.

Ye next day he sent Ml_ Smith upon his parould with an Armenia yl hee had plundered and another of his servtt w*j£ another message to us and y* Dutche, with offers of peace promis- ing to accept of what wee shall present him with, which if wee shall not accept, first hee will plunder and fire yl towne and then sett upon us, to wcJl wee returned answere that Ml. Smith be- longed to us, and yl wee would not p5. with him now yi hee was in our custody, and that there was neither faith or trust in him but hee was a perfidious Rebell, and therfore wee would not trust him. Fro' that time none of his party dared to come neare us, but continued a great deale of tiranny and cruellty toy! townes men, cutting of some hands and other heads ; day and night robbing and burning downe y% citty, that untill y t 1 1th, w0*1 day hee made a generall fire round about yi towne, wit had like to have destroiedyi Dutch house it standingamongst tilde and thatcht houses more then yours doth, in as much that they were surrounded with flames, but they escaped, now standing quasy alone, with but a very few houses neare it ; but our quartei-s are all preserv'd neare a quarter of a mile round, soe fearfull were j* villaines of comeing neare our house againe after j*. first loss they sustained. Soe y* you may please to take notice yl yl greater part of y* towne is burnt to yl ground but y .*_ wee kept, for w$ yl inhabitants are very thankfull in their acknowledg- ing blessing & praising our nation, asscribing all to yl valour of our companies who now and then salied out even to yl gates of yt Castle.

Yl 12^L by yl. coming in of his spies y* ^brought him intelligence of an approaching army hee left yl towne and returned yl way hee came, garding his spoile from yi p.suite of any yl should follow him. He hath caried away in gold, silver and pearle. precious stones

B 1255—7

26 SVRAT LETTERS.

and other rich goods to the vallue of many hundred thousand pounds, and burnt of other goods and houses to yi amo* of as much more, so y± y * towne is utterly ruin'd and very little left either of riches or habitation. Yi Rogue was very cruell; Mr_ Smith in y,e_ time of his imprisonml was present when hee cutt of more yD- 26 hands in one day and many heads ; who ever hee was yi was taken & brought before him yi. could not redeeme himself lost either his hand or his head, and his manner was first to plunder & then to cause y*. ownl. of his house to give him some thing over and above to redeeme his house from being burnt, and yet y* p.fidious villaine would fire it afterwards, although hee had obliged himself to y^ contrary. Wee are now endeavouring to emprove this skirmage of ours to yol- profitt, by acclamations of y ■ townes people, as well they y* are sufferers as those whose houses were pre- served, who laying aside their owne losses cry out in thousands for a reward from ye. King, to ye English yi had by their courage preserved them, when those to whom they were intrusted as the Governour etg dared not shew his head.

Wee were with yl noble men of y? army that came to our reliefe, from whom wee rece* great thankes for yJL good service wee did y i. King and the country ; where u pon your President having a pistoll in his hand layed it before y* Chiefe, saying y* hee did now lay downe his armes leaving y_e future care and protection of y!_ Citty to them, which was exceedingly well taken ; telling y% President hee did accept it and in reward of y* good service hee must give him a vest, a horse, & girt a sword about him ; but yoL PresidL. told him these were things becoming a souldier, but wee were merchants, and expected favour from y! King in our trade. Hee replyed what hee spoke of was intended fro' himself as a souldier, and y* hee did not doubt but y? King, when he should bee adviced of ye_ service wee did him, would gratefie us to our content ; whereupon yoF President hinted to him his expectations to have yi Custome remitted you as a signall of yi Kings grace and favour; and it would annimate us to be yet further serviceable to him upon all occasions; this wee have in a petition sent up to ye King backt with yl affirmations of the Generall of yS Army; y* Kings, publique and private intellegencers, for he maintanes both in Towne : yi Shawbunder &2i, and also taken care y* it bee incearted from yl Governor of Amad* who is this Kings uncle ; besides severall letters yol President hath wrote to his ffriends at Court as Mustafa Chaune, Rozon Zemeir et°_, w^ being furnished and sent away y* 16^> wee repayred to y* Mareene for y! dispatche of y i Europe ships who lade very slowly notwith- standing ye_ goods lay ready upon y? Mareene ; but indeed they were hindered some time for want of their men, wcJl they sent to our rescue, wherin they were very forward and liberall wch win deserve not only to bee gratefied, but a particull acknowledgment in Court to yi Commanders for their future encouradgment, whenever your occasions shall require their complyance in this nature ; for if they had confined themselves to Charter party, and spared us no more men than these they contract to spare, you might have been great sufferers, you having yj? in cash in your warehouses upwards of 100000 rup8, all yor Ellephants teeth, all your Broadcloth though sold returned againe, W*: wee thought it as good to receive, as that Merely, y* bought it if plundered or burnt might breake and runn away, a cargoe of 40000 rup8. from Bantam, Vermillion, Perpetuanas, and a great many other goods, as well for sale as bought for Europe, that wee cannot compute yor house to bee less wourth to you then four score thousand pounds sterl. , besids yo!_ PresidlL & Councill, which wee intended should be dead corpes, knowing hee would value us at more y% wee and all our families are wourth, but blessed bee God yi. hath delivered us and you from soe great sufferings. And yet your loss will amo* to neerest 1000 pounds in Mercollees y\ lay before y% Custome house to bee sent downe & lead yi. was intended to bee waighed out to yi. King, all w^L wee have advie'd of to Court requiring satisfaction.

The 14-lli your frigatt " Vine" arrived fro' Acheene in safety to SwjL hole, blessed bee God shee will make yor. very neare if not 3000 full fraught, soe yl wee hope yo?. will not repent yi

SURAT LETTERS.

charge wee put you to y°. last yeare in doubling, y* hath made her a firmmcship for as long time as she hath already served yo^, with a very little yearly charge. Wee intend her y°r same voiage againe if goods can bee procurable, being very much to bee doubted, y°_ townes loss hath bene so great by y* grand Rebell but it is our comfort y*. none will bee accepted before your " Vine " if any voyage bee a foot thither.

The Queene of Acheene is very respective to yo^. servants y*. voyage thither and is very desirous our Nation would undertake y«. whole trade of her dominiones, shee is in great thoughts wl the Dutch, they having now lately sent a sloupe fro' Mallacca with a Mustira* Portugall in her, under pretence to sell Arracke, but it was to draw of their Chiefe and y°_ rest of their factor they had residing there, that stole away in yl night. It is thought they intend a warr against y° Queene & ye other princes of y" Island of Samatra to oblidge them not to admitt y° English into their ports or sell a come of pepper unto us, and this is certainly their drift ; it is a rich Island and affoards many brawe commodities y\ yield great advance, as you may perceave by these merch<£ allowing you ye__ quarter p^. of yer produce of all y? goods laden aboard your " Vine*' to bee taken out in kinde upon their returne hither, w£jl makes yoj: " Vine" make 80 good a hand of it. The Queene hath wrot your Presidt a very kind letter, wherin shee makes large proffers if you would undertake ye_ whole trade, but y» shee will expect you protect her from ye Dutch, but yo™ are not in a condition to doe one or y* other ; however wee shall hould her in expectation, and acquaint her wee have adviced you of it & waite yol order. Mr_ Andrews rece1? some yeares since a present and letter from her to our Soveraigne Lord the King, whose answere shee is much inquisitive after, please to order yor. enquiry after it.

With what difficulty wee have procured yo° yer pepper now sent you, and its dearness wee have already advic'd. Wee are now to confirme to you wl_ wee J* last yeare oppin'd would come to passe yer Dutches laying claime to all yl coast from north to south, prohibiting all vessails to deal or carry downe y* coast, either cotten, ophium, or any other commodity vendable, and all vessells y*. come to y%- Norward that they bring not either peppL Cardamon, Cassia Lignum or any other goods y* they use to sell here, declaring y« whole coast and its trade to bee theirs by their conquest of Cochine & y*. it shall bee confiscation for any vessaill wherin the aforesaid commodities shall bee found.

Wee continue your Factors at Porcatt still to keep your propriety and claime to yl. port, but y2_ " Hopewell" was not suffered to lade a corne of pepper or Cassia Lignum, notwithstand- ing your Ffactors had contracted two yeares since for a p.cell, and all for feare of yi Dutche. j have the natives in such great awe that they threaten them if they sell a pound of these Com- modities to any but y51, they will presently ruine them. The whole story yo? have in M' Harington & M*: Grigsnies letters to us coppy whereof wee herewith send yo4 wcJl having perused please to advice w* wee shall doe as to yi continuance or drawing of those Ffact!!., for except y* people can bee protected from y* cruelty of y? Dutch you must expect nothing there and in a shorte time no where elce.

You having ordered ycr drawing of yl Fuland Ffacto™- and also forbid that any adventures bee made for yor. accol hath enduced Mrr George Cranmer having continued a yeare here with- out any considerable imploiment to desire our leave to returne unto his country, rather y° to wast more idle time, being a persone industrious and willing to improve himself some other way. Hee hath behaved hiniselfe deservingly in your service, and therfore hopes for your favour when any thing shall present wherein hee may bee further serviceable unto you. W1. hath bine p"L him on acco^ of his sallery is entred in ye_ books, y* cleares him of y? Ffactory, hee having noe dependances here in India, wherby wee conceaveyou can bee prejudiced, wherfore you may please to pay him of J* remaines due to him ; wee have paid him no more than yi 3ll of the

* Mustira is probably a corruption of the Portuguese word Mosteiro, which means a big gun.

28 SURAT LETTERS.

wages you made him out of England, but hee affirmes M* Andrews made him 50 R; p. ann™. which hee referrs to you.

In your Surratt Frigatt came Mf Rich;! Mohun your quandam second of Maccassar, who having fairly & honnestly discharged his duty in ye: Ffactory, hath brought yi Agent of Bantam et5! Councells recommendations, being desirous to take his passage from hence w?^ wee have in compliance w^ the Agent etc* and his owne request gratefied him in, and appointed his accom- modation in yl " Loyall Merchant." Hee hath lately bine to acquaint us that not finding any thing in towne, wherein hee could invest some few monies that was laying by him to y? amol of 7000 Rup?. hee had resolved to cast himself upon yoi. clementy by investing it in yorT com- modities, promising and obliging himself e to deliver them up unto your custody and wholy refer himself to you, hoping the good caractour hee bringes with him will prevaile with you to favour him herein, and so wee leave him to yl merritt of his good service done you, this wee thought good to acquaint you with since hee had divulged it to us.

Wee doe renew our request of yi passed yeare yi you would bee pleased to make provision in Charter p*Z for yl changing 10 men yearly with us out of every ship, for y^ people of the " Surratt " frigatt and " Vine " are very clamourous, nay to a mutinous condition that they are forced to serve here as slaves, and not suffered to returne to their country after 5 and 6 yeares service, for wee can hardly perswade a Commander to carry home a man, they pretending they have there complement, and yt it is a loss to yi. owners, for besides his lumber they must lay in water & provisions y* takes up so much tunadge, and thus they argue.

Wee are now to petition you for our selves, amongst whom John Goodier humbly desires you would please to consider his great paines, having laboured more extraordinaryly in the setling and stating yl accol^? w^ were both erronious and falce, that y i confusednesse of them did con- straigne him to goe backe to Anno 1658, that you first began your accoli heer, and so to unravell all comparing yi generall bookes acco* by acci and paper by paper rectefying yl errours as hee went along yl. You will find in these bookes now sent you many folioes hee hath been forced to add for yi. stateing all things aright by wi his indifatigable paines hee hath cleared every accoil. That now your bookes are true and perfect, for wi|? his good service hee hopes you will confirm on him the sallery you have ever thought y_l place and degree of second and trust of y.1 accoii doth meritt, for his encouradgment to goe on chearfully and honnestly in your bussinesse.

In yl next place Gerard Aungier is yo!l humble supplyant that you would please to con- sider him in his sallery, as his quallity doth merritt, and yl place wherin hee officiates as ware- house keeper, that hee may receive yl same incouragemi from you as you have thought good to allow others y*. have serv'd you in his quality, and hee promised none shall exceed him |n duty and ffaythfull service.

Your Presidi had in a letter to yl Governol S iThomas Chamberlaine advic'd concerning cer- taine p.cells of Indico sent home in Anno 1659 by ships "London," "Constantinople," " Merchant," etci, and therfore thought not to have mentioned it heer, but yi the owner of one of yi parcells is come out of yl Country and clamers on us for his goods unto whom wee know not w± answer to make yi bussiness is soe foule ; as thus, when yoi " Wellcome " went to Bussorah in Anno 1658 a Moore Merchant lades ?board upon Accoi Ffrauget 46 bales who wanting monies to defray yi. charges takes up an accoi of Bottomaria 7000 rupees (a thing accustomary in these Partes) of Mi Wich etci, merchants of yi cuntry, whereof Ml Wiches part and adventure was rup.1 4000 at 27 p. cent profitt ; when yi ship arrived to Bussora yi owner had leave to proffer and make sale of his Indico for yl. paymA of the monies hee had taken up, but yi. marketts proving bad, and yl Indico worse, for report spoke it falce or at best naught, and therfore would not sell, therfore for yi. security of yi. debt it was brought

SURAT LETTERS. 29

back againe and y± owner with it. But in y_l voyage y •, owner died, and also MJL Wich, Ml. Andrews succeeding, at yJL shipps returne takes the Indico ashoare into your yard. The deceaseds servJL soe soon as hee could gett ashoare, left all and hasted up to Agra, where his Masters sonne was. In the interim, Mi Andrews compounds w^. yJL other Merchii that had wi^ MJL Wich given out their monies to receive their principal], shewing them yl Indico was returned unvendable, soe yl they were in election to loose all. Soe hee paid them of, allowing Mf, Wich his principall also in accoi^., and paies it not in towards extinguishing his debt with you, & thus he buyes out and makes himself m-L of yJL whole bill, and consequently own I of y 1 Indico wHl when hee had done hee caused it to bee weighed of to yoJL accol as bought of a Merchant or Broker, at his owne price, and soe repossesses himself and gaines not only all yl Bottomari.i of 27 p. cent, but also an overplus ; for yl goods was of more value then y JL monies imprested upon them, wiS yJ! sonne makes demand of proffering to satisfie y JL bill and demands his goods but here is neither the one or the other. Hee exclaimes against our Nation, saying wee have rob'd him of his goods. He hath been severall times with yJL Governour unto whom he hath brought l.res of recommendation from Court, that truly wee are at a non pluss what to answer to such a durty action. That man is enraged, saies hee will go to yJL King for Justice. If a small matter of 1000 rupJL will stop his mouth wee hould it better to part with it, then yl further trouble should ensue ; wherfore wee hope you will accol with Ml Andrews for these his illegal! proceedings, soe dishonest in it selfe and dishonourable to y* Nation, and yet yl is not all; in point of Indico yl p.cell bought of an Armenian Cojah Minaus by name, wherin you are yet more wronged then yl attestation makes out, as carying a just suspition, as first hee entered upon it against your positive order and prohibition, wijjj was to send noe Indico home yl yeare which clause of your Lre hee answered but a litle before with a promise not to send you any. Secondly hee bought it without the consent of his Councell. Thirdly hee bought it without a Broker a thing never practised in these countries by wcA you yet further suffer in his ignor- ance not to make those due dimentions accoustamary w^ hee was not verst in. These three reasons considered, w_* can any man suggest, but that there must bee some sinnester ends in this man for his actings in this nature, against order, against consent of Councell, and against custome, and yet it is yet wourse, for if you please to looke into yJL Leadgj; of Anno 1659-60 fol2 38, were these 3 p.cells Indico wee are now treateing of, distinctly as if bought from Brokers & merch^L.

There are severall other p.ticulers y.* eoncearnes yl clearing of yoJL accoM, wherin are found many neglects and willfull omissions, which are too long to inceart in yl. bookes, wherfore wee have drawne out a paper apart, for y± more p.fect explaining of yj? , which goeth here incl< yl speaks to all y± errours committed, and now rectefied since yl Infancy of this stocke w^h finding to be too tedious to bee discourst heer, have concluded it more prol to bee thus separated as what will more immediately concerne your Accountant and Auditour. It beares yl title of remembrances concerning yl rectefied accoiL of yl new Generall stock from Anno 1658 to Ml Andrews departure home Anno 1662-3, & speaks to every place or Ffactory wherin you have bad any dealing, & how they are now adjusted in your generall books, and soe with them and alsoe what wee have here acquainted you with, wee have for the present done with Mi. Andrews.

The Capi of Surat Castle, wee have found upon generall occasions to bee our f reind, and a f reind to ol nat™, hee hath delivered us severall musters of sword blades and knives, shaped in wood, of w*, shapes hee desires us to procure for him two or three hundred blades of eacli. or as many as can be made, to bee sent by yl next shipping. This his request, wee recomend to your Worpil desiring you would not faile him in his expectations ; the case of mustars, is marked with yoJL marke, and delivered unto Capl Millet ; this wee press, in regard Ml Andrews b 1255—8

30 SURAT LETTERS.

reel- shapes from him formerly, blades of wf* shapes came out for p.ticuler men, & hee neglected, wj* hee sent & acquainted us wJjji to our sorrow, that one of his quality, passing, his word to such a person, should not comply better.

Wee have had second alarmes of Sevages retourne to Surrat, wi£ did soe feare yl all inhabitants, yJj. they all fled, some in boats and some into inland villages, to p.serve them- selves and their families from his cruelty ; yl yjl flight was worse then at his first plundering, and burneing y±. towne, & hee become soe terrible, yl report of his approach is sufficient at any time, to dispeople yl small remainder of yJL citty. Y_i hath againe caused your goods from Agra and Luckno, some of wijk Caphala were even within a mile or two or three of yl citty, and others not more then a day or two journey hence, who hearing of yJL rumour, drove backe 4 or 5 daies journey, before they could come to any towne or village where they could secure the goods, w£^ hath yet further retarded your shipping, and also constraigned us to send you the goods packt up as they came out of y± country, by WJ2k meanes wee feare, you will find them not soe well sorted, our intentions being if wee could have had time for their repacking, to review them, and soe sorted them into numbers, but wee have had only time to put them aboard as they are. Wee hope yJL wee have done, will meet wit yo.1 accept- ance better then if wee had detained them by us : there is in them a great deale of browne packing stuffess w.21 if they had been here opened, the procurer had taken back, and so eas'd y £1 cost, wJ*. please to give order y_£ best may bee made of them.

There is in your Factory here an ancient sober man of good breeding, that wee found Steward of yoJL house by name MJL Sam± Salsbery. Wee find him very well qualified for yl imploiment, as his good husbandry in your expences since wee arrived will make it appeare, and therfore as wee conclude him deserving in his thrifty care and diligence wee recomend him to your favour, that you would please to settle some competent stipend of sallery, that may encourage him to continew his paines, and that, from yJL time of his first being emploied by Ml Andrews and Councell hee then being entertain'd by Consultation, hee hath not reel any sallery, for these 2 yeares, that hee hath continued in y± imploiment.

Newes is arriv'd from Ahmad-i, Mohobed Ckaun that Governour, who is the Kings uncle, and Lord of all these provinces, wee heare, is much troubled at yl ruine of y± Citty, as the choicest flower in his Garden. Hee made what expedition possible after hee heard Sevagyes- approach. His Army hath been herd these three daies, but hee himself hath not reacht further then Broach, its thought will come no furthJL, Second freight is over, wherfore wee have sent Ml Goodier M_I Aungier & M£ Rolt, fittingly accomodated to him, to p.cure his letter to yl King, for a reward for our good service done him, which wee are much encouradged to heleeve wee shall obtaine, his Grandees heer being all soe thouroughly possest of our good service in preserving, not only y_£ greatest, but yJL best and richest part of the towne, that wee hope by our next to give you a good account of this bussiness.

Amongst the papers now sent yoJL, there is a declaration by Thomas Rolt, wherin you will find yl the late PJL Ml Mat-2. Andrews hath charg'd him with severall sumes in yj Mareene Bookes, wil he utterly disownes, and says are only fictions put upon him by said Ml Andrews, not- withstanding his request tp said Andrews that his name might not bee us'd in matters wherin hee was totally ignorant, wil his request was highly displeasing to MJL Andrews, for w£L hee was displac'd with a reply, yl hee would use yl Kings name if hee pleased ; and indeed wee cann soe farr vindicate M_I_ Rolt, as to say it was his practise, to use y_£ names and yl for great sumes, of those yl never had the least knowledge of it ; besides wee find M_L Rolt of yl sober temIL and soe punctual! in his bussiness, that wee cannot think him guilty of any the least neglect.

fiUR AT LETTERS. 31

Wee send you all books and papers of y.? transactions of your affaires with y " Letter Bookes & Consultations contracted since dispeed of yi. last years shipping; wherin you will find many things materiall and wourthy yo_L serious debate, as yJi letters <>f Call Velha & Porqua, that will acquaint you with y± losse of y4 trade of this coast, wherby (besides many other considerable advantages) you will find yoi. expectations for pepper in y± future totally frustrated; and wee musl acquaint you (though not for neuse) yl y± Dutch make no accompt of yJL Articles of Peace so lately conclud'd betweene our two Nations, wherin it is concluded & agreed that wee should have commarce & trade, in yX same freedome, one with another, fl each respective Nation hath, or is grant'd and allowed to yJL Natives yJL are Inhabitants with all amity and ffriendship, wheras on y4 contrary they prosecute us (where they have noe reall pretence) in other Kings jurisdictions, and by threats & mennaces of yJL people, if they shall at any time either furnish, or suffer us to have yiL least trading or commerce with them.

Our first arrivii- and the change of Governor hath wasted what wee brought out from you for presents, wherfore having already bespoake of you yJL finest Scarletts and Greenes, there will further bee wanting to us, a p_£L of red & a p4i. of Greene Sattin, some knives of all sorts, those of amber halfts without pictures, great, and small, silver halfts, silver enann-M &k£t. and what other rarities yoJL may light upon, such things often times being better accepted yJL those of greater value, of all wj^L pray furnish us by the next shipping.

Wee were in good hopes you would have yearly sent us a suply of paper, inck, quills, and a few black lead penns, of all wS^L wee are now totally destitute, having expended yJL whole quantety, in employing yo_L serviL, wherof wee brought out a considerable number, besides those wee found in yJL country ; wee confesse wee might have been better husbands had it not been meerly to have kept y_™ from idleness.

Wee have made our Surgery Chest to last us two years, with y_L helpe of such medicines as are here p.curabJ? , what is immediately wanting to us yJL inclosed list will acqJL yo£ with, please to enorder their sending by yJL next.

Wee have seperated a place apart for Gods worsJL & decently adorned it, wherin stands yo r Library, & amongst them those severall volumes of yJL holy bible in yJL Languages, w£!l is much esteemed by those y_L are learned amongst these people ; y_L if any eminent p.son come to your houses his greatest desire is to see the Chappell ; wherfore wee entreate you for further ornament, to send us out a large table in a frame, gilded and handsomely adorned with Moses and Aaron holding the two tables containing the ten Commandements, the Lords Prayer & the Creed, written in letters of gould, & in y_L midst at y±. topp in triangles, Gods name writt in as many of these easterne Languages as Arabick Persian &c4 as can bee procured ; which if you please to honnoi our Chappell with, it will bee a glory to our religion, as y_*. w£t is more taken, than any thing that they shall read beside, and yet our meaning is y.i y_l Commandements &CJL be wrot in yJL EngJL language.

The Swally Pinnace is retourn'd to us againe, by wJ* our amicable conclusion ; wee have made to us friends of yJL Batticolla* &cJL Rajahs, w_°*L wee may say was very seasonably con- cluded, it being yj_ only place for pepper left, but how long it will continew wee are doubtfull ; only thus much wee are certaine, yo ». had not had any pepper this yeare had it not been for

*

Batticola: — Bhaktul or Snsagade twenty-five miles south of Honavar. In 1637 the English attracted by the amount of pepper to be procured in the adjoining country opened a factory at Karwar and Bhaktul. About 1670 the factors were murdered by an infuriated mob because a bull-dog belonging to one of them killed a cow. In 1 t'.7o Fryer writes—" Outstretching the Malabar Coast we sailed along by Batticalai on the Canatick Coasts ; and the next morning between two Islands we saw sculking six Malabar Proes waiting their Boats; but making use of their oars as well as sails soon outstripped us. The day after we came to an anchor at Onor." — Fryer, p. 57.

32

SURA T LETTERS.

thcit port : the vessaill is no way fitt for any service of yours, wherfore think to sell her and give the Mallabarr Acco.*- creditt for the money.

There are your two old servants Chout Tocyner and Sorajy Chitta both whose houses and all yJL was in yi are consum'd with the flames, that wee beleeve they are now become very poore men; wee have not as yet made any conclusion w^. them, or debated yJL abuses and wrongs done you, but wait yo .*_ order ; in yJL meane time you are considerably in- debted to them both, for w£lL moneies they daily clamour on us ; something considerable wee shall certainly wrest fro' them, and on yJL other side, they have yJL like expectations fro' you. Chout layes yJL charge of yJL Consultation, drawen up by M _1 Andrews against him, to bee the fictions of his owne braine, and it appeares no lesse, for M_L Gray your then Secretary, doth avouch, they appeared soe unreasonable to MiL Lambton & Ml-. Fforster that they refus'd to signe, notwithstanding a great deale of passion hee exprest at their refusall, and further in some few monthes after being scencible y_L what hee had drawne up against Chout was not yJL reall truth, hee ordered Mil Gray to cutt yJL Articles (for it beares not yJL name of a Consulta- tion) out of the booke, after it was registred, w.5k considered wee find you have but small pretence against him, Mil Andrews having made Cojah Minas come in and accuse him wrong- fully, wherfore Chout expects yoJL ansJL in favour of him ; Somjy Chitta also declares y_*- M_L Matthew Andrews was consenting to y_L abominable abuse put upon yo jL in over-rating y_L goods, for w^. his connivance, the same Somjy did receive from him in Tynn, Gold and oth_L goods of his owne, at an extraordinary rate, over and above their reall wourth, by w°h Mj; Andrews very well knew hee must bee a very greater looser, and yJL hee had no way to fetch up this losse, but by over-rating yours twice as much ; and jr.*. MJL Andrews was his unhappy Councellour, when hee had y± dispute with yoJL Preside, to take away all yg. goods hee had bought for you, supposing yoJL shipps could not bee laden without them, but wee found other meanes, gratefying him in y±. taking away y±. goods, w^_ were all remaining to y_!L Instant of Sevagees arrivall, & by him together with his house all burnt, this ingenious confession hee hopes will plead with you for some mercy.

Wee find great damage in yoJL cloth that came out in your " Loyall Merch 1," whereof there was 60 peeces out of sever ]L bales, that were some more some lesse rotten, w£!L acquainting Cap-L Millet with, wee agreed to appoint 4 persons, 2 in behalf of him & yJL ships owners, and 2 for yourselves, to adjust and settle w_L the reall damage did amount to, wilL they give in under their hands to bee rupJL 748 : 34, & more for a bale of perpetuanas 100 rupees, so y_l you are damaged by yJL ship rupees 848 : 34, wJ^L wee have invoiced back, charging it to y_!_ ships accompt it being desired to have it referred home, w_£L please to take notice of.

Wee are very sorry to see yA ships here thus late, & shall make it our harty prayers, that the Almighty would please y±. they might redeeme their time by faire and prosperous gales, yA they may both seasonably and in safety arrive to yo JL, w£*L is all att present, but the tender of our most humble service, w^. wJ^. wee close these, under the subscription of

Swally Mareene the 88% JanJL 1663

64

Yo.L most Faithfull Serv*? at Comm^ GEORGE OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. HENRY GARY. GER AUNGIER.

SVRAT LETTERS.

33

	List of Factors in Surrat.
Si Geo. Oxinden, P*	Charles Smeaton.		Charles Bendish.
M * John Goodier.	Rob* Sainthill.		John Pettitt.
M ' Ifenry Gary.	Streins™ Master.		Robert Barber.
M* AnthlSmith.	Ralph Lambton.		Charles James.
MrT Ge_F Aungier.	Val Hurse, drinking	sott.	Henry Chownes.
M I Nich : Scrivener.	Thomas Hoskins.		John Liscaletins.
Mattel Gray.	Richard Taylor.		Rob* Ward Chury.
Ran^ Taylor.	Richard Hardress.		Sam Salsbery Stret
Thomas Rolt.	Richard Francis.
Francis Cobb.	Henry Oxinden.

Right Worp.1. et<l our Respect^. Ffriends,

Yours of y* 21.? November, was dehvered us y.? 20*^ of Jan «L a tedious passage; by w*^ we To Ffo find our last to you had a more nimble conveighance. The safe and seasonable returne of y .? George-. " Madrass Merchl " from Siam, wee hope hath crowned your expectations, but are sorry to heare of the death of her Commander, thanking you for the care yoB have taken for y? bringing away M_r Coats from thence. The place is not only remote from us, but what doth more discour- age us is, that yj? commodities of these parts are not soe propper as are those with you and the places there adjacent ; wee leave you and y* Agent at Bant!i to dispute your right to it, wishing that either you or they, may have soe good encouragement, from y± accoJL you shall receive thence, yJL the Company may bee invited to setle there. Wee are sure the Dutch make great advantages by yi trade, which why it may not bee as profitabl to our Company wee know not ; wee shall not say more of Peircaun, then y i wee are satisfied with your good intentions, ingeniously confessing, that hee is a person of such a plausible tongue, as mig_* deceive us, as hee hath you, were hee as great a stranger to us, as hee was to yourselves.

Wee likewise thank you for y? care you have p.mised in forwarding our 1[? to Ml Travers with all speed, & yo.r p.mised care of yi Ffactory, w^ wee find you have already entred upon in your intentions to send a vessail thether yf passed Janf; soe yj? wee shall from y7» time wholy give them up to you to bee disposed of according to your orders and commaunds.

The " Affrican" God bee thanked came in yJj 12*^ of October, but wee were forced by unex- pected distractions, to make it the 29'J? of January before wee could give her, & y«L "Loyal) Merch * " their dispatches hence for Europe, the causes yi obstacle there more speedy dispatch wee shall acquaint you with in an af Jj sexco.

Wee must very much commend yo£ prudence, in that you have resolved to take yjL Comp^? consent, for y • Agents going up to Gulcondah. Were they as setled a body as formerly they have been, such a thing might have been done w'il less caution ; but as they now stand, and y •. time expired for y .« drawing up their accot? according to yl preamble and subscription, it is doubtfull how many goe off, though others may come in, in their places, that although you may gaine some priviledges and immunities to y? nation, the w£j> wee beleeve, will not bee attained without y± disbursing of a considerable summe in presents to yf King and those hungry nobles'about him, wSJ1 will yet bee increas'd in the maintaining y ° porte and grandeur of such a p.son as y* Agent is, sutable to him as y± representative of y« nation, in y_? qualli- ty and dignity of his place, w!§ charge and expences will not possibly rellise w^» those yf. shall withdraw their stocks now upon yS making up of yf acco*».

Mr„ Widdrington hath neither complied with you, nor us, nor indeed his obligation and peti- tion, that perswaded us to suffer him to travell into those parts ; therin is incerted his obligation to

B 12-55— 9

34 SURAT LETTERS.

submitt himself to you to bee sent home on this yeares shipping, but he hath againe practized his accustumed in slighting all orders and comm'l & wee are told by some in yj house, that hee hath according to his wonted custome sett y£ at variance at MesleE?, & left them to quench yi. flames of those hellish fire brands of contention, that hee hath flung among y ™. Wee hope if hee come yi way againe, you will not permitt him to come at his owne leasure but by yi seizure of his p.son commi him to yo°_ & take fro' him yi. 50 role Wlj1 hee hath so knavishly cheated y e_ Comp* of.

Wee are hartely sorry, yoi have soe potent an ennemy incamp^ soe neare yo:2 , his pretences and demands are snares to draw you into subjection, and to devest you of y i power of Govern!?*, and will in a shorte time cut you & in you y | Compi of all their priviledges and immunities, wee know not w 1 to advice yo.H , and therfore offer up our praiers to Almighty God to direct you in all yoJL Councells, and give yo£ a happy and Honourable conclusion w*l them, v?$ would bee better in our oppiniones composed by a present, though it bee more considerable then wJ; hee seemes to demaund of 500 Pag^L, though you doubled yi sume, rather y » y* you conde- scend to pay them any annuall tribute, although his demands were never soe small.

To all admiration & wond_F Sevagy, that grand Rebell of Decann, hath so privately con- veighed himself into those p*i w*l a force of 6 or 7000 horse and foote, so neer as Gundavee, yl it is not above 20 miles from hence, before yi Govi or any of these townes people had y_5 least inckling of his approach, w* sudden newes yi. he was to come to y_f Gates of yJL towne the next day, instantly drove yi. GovJL and all his retinue together w* yi. eminenses most considerabl p*255 y 1 were inhabitants into yi. Castle, yi other more inferiour people, all of y"* forsook their houses and fled with their ffamilies, some by water and others by land, leaving their houses & wi ever of estates & fortunes they had exposed to the cruelty of this rogue, who put so great a terrour into them, through his tiranny to those yi were taken by his scouts in their flight, by cutting of yj» hands of many, & the heads of some, that yi. terrour of him rained to yi. day in yi. hearts of yi people, that notwithstanding here is now left by Mohabut Ckaunyi. GovJL of Ahm* an army of 1000 horse & 500 foote, yet are yjl Inhabitants soe feare strucken, that hee may returne againe, that y !_ greatest pi of yi. townes people, are since fled. From yJL lal of yJL allarme (w^ was yi. 6*1 Jani.) wee sent downe to yi severall Com- manders in yi. Roade and yi next morn.S. had 50 or 60 of their seamen sent to our aid well armed for oiL assistance : yJL day being yi. 7*1 entred j±. towne with fire and sword, hath robb'd and plundered Virgy Vorah, Hodge Said Beague, those gr * and emini Merchants, of yJL great- est pJL of their riches, with many more, though inconsiderable to yE , yet of great estate and fortunes, all lying in gold, silver & Jewells, dugg all their houses ; and when they had possest themselves of all, fired their houses downe to yi. ground, all but Hodge Saeds our Neighbour, & yi wee preserved in defence of our owne. Hee sent many messages to us, yi. l!L was, that hee demanded a Liberall gift from us towards yi. maintenance of his army, having been at great expences to come so farr, w** as hee was a rebell & a thiefe, for our owne safeties hee expected wee should beare in some measure, this allarm'd us to stand upon our Guards, conclud- ing y* less yi yi whole would not satisfie him, whereupon wee got to us a second suply of men, that wee were (the Companies servants Included) neer one hundred & three or foure score strong, till when wee demured our ansi, and then sent him word by another messenger hee sent y i next day, y 1 wet knew no obligation wee had to give him any thing or hee any reason to demand it, and yi wee were resolved to maintaine our owne w*5 our lives. Hee reply ed yi if hee had not wjLhee expected, hee would raise ol house to yJL ground & not leave a man alive, at w5?L wee sent away his messenger, & bidd him assault us if he dare, wee were ready to oppose him, & y 1 hee send no further message, or messenger, resolving to treat no further with him, wS]1 if hee did, wee would shoote y JL messengl dead in yi place, requiring him &

SURAT LETTERS. 35

all y * belonged unto him, not to come w1*. in yfLreache of our gunns. Y-i next day or yJ! day afterw^i hee sent a party of horse and foote, w$ combustib1" stuff to fire yi severall Bania houses, y _* were joining to ours, hoping thereby to doe as much to us; yl they might not bee discovered, they kept undl yi eves of y_? houses that wee could perceive only yi blades of their lances, wherupjL wee sent a ply out to fight them, y t in a shorte time routed ym. out fro' thence, in w?j? conflict there fell of theirs to y ° ground a horse & horseman, & one of tbcir foote, beside wi wounded, our people coming of againe, with one wounded deeply in y e shoulder, & another shott in y*, legg with an arrow, after which they came not more nere us, but minded their plunder & firing y.? towne at distance, untill said rebell had heaped to himself vast riches to y t. amoi of many hundreds of thous^. pounds, WLJ1 hee had got together by yj? 13*1? in y *. morning and martcht away without any opposition, or any ones lifting their hands ag!* him except ourselves in yj? whole time of his ransacking yi towne. Since here hath arrived severall armies out of the country, who served to no other end then to behold yi ruine and desolation y i hee hath made, the greatest part of yi towne being burnt downe & laid in ashes, & this is yi w°^ hath obstructed our ships & detained them so much longer, then their usuall time of dispeed ; our severall caphalaes of y* goods being at yi time of y* devas- tation, nere yi towne, were for yTe security of yi goods forced to drive back againe, some d» journey to preserve themselves. Wee had almost forgott to tell you yj*. Mi. Ant ° Smith in yi. time of troubles, was so inconsiderate as to come from Swally hither alone, and was snapt coming through yi towne and carried to yi. said Sevagy, who after hee had threatned him w^L the loss of his head, caused him to bee bound with his armes behind him amongst yi rest of y •_ prison?!! demaunding 300000 rupees for his ransome, but by yi_ friendshipp of an Armenian y i was of his acquaintance, of w2E Sevagee asked his quaUity & condition, w.i assured him, y i hee was a comm? man, y* next day tooke 300 rupi & sett him free, sending him to us upon his paroll, w1^ a message full of threats & menaces, but having him in our possession, wee were resolved not to suffer him to returne, but sent our ansJ by thosi yj came will him, y* hee was a rebell and a thief e, and therfore valewed not his threats, and y^ M5 Smith was our servi & wee would keep him ; and yi is wJhath passed w* us here, to yi astonishmi of all, as well sufferers as those that came from other parts.

Although wee have but little Europe neuse yi is come to our eares since yi ships left England, yet wee are very willing to impart it to you. It is this, our letters at yi 30*5 Novi were ariv'd in England in May. The King was very much troubled at the actions of yi Viceroy of Goa, and was resolved to have full satisfaction from y_? Crowne of Portugall. The Consull of Alleppo adviseth y^ by letters from London of yi 12^ June, all things were in a peaceable condition in Church & state & a right understanding and good correspondence betweene his Maj^ and his two houses of Parliami. That a Dutch ship was run away w^ a Carg *. of Turky goods, and yi Consulls at Smirna, Alleppo, etc., secur'd untill they render satisfaction in 100000. This is wi at Presi wee have notice of; w]L wee receive our over land advices wee shall imp,? wi. further neuse, as conveighance shall offer for yo I party, untill y 5. wee take leave and remaine

Your assured 1^ friends, Surr},y? 16* Febt 1663 GEO OXINDEN.

64 JOHN GOODIER.

HENRY GARY. GER. AUNGIER.

36 SUE AT LETTERS.

P. 8. — Attending some dales for y • Cossett, y 1 we migl have delivered our Lett™ a Dutch ship arivedfrom Persia, w?t broug.* us advices from o.r_ HonlAe EmployE! dated the 10!!? August by wsl'weundersi of y • arrivall of their shipping viz.* the "London" from Bantam y| 10!^ Aprill, the Earle of Marleburgh w*_h y*. " Dunkirke", " Leopord", " Mary Rose", y_e_ " Richard and Martha", the " Junes", the "Mary Gold" & " Goodhope" yve 26!.h June, y* " Royall Charles" & " Discovery" yj Aug8!, at w^J1 time no neuse of yl. Coronation or sterling adven- ture. The Dutch had arrived 9 ships from Battavia and 1 from Cochin.

The Consull from Alleppo writes of a grJL victory obteyned by y_£ Portugalls ag?! the Spanyard, occasioned chiefly by 5000 Eng. vizi. 3000 foote & 2000 horse then in yJL Portugalls army w.£ by relation foug! desperately, not giving nor taking quarter. The Spaniard is said to have lost (of 15000 his army consisted) 12000, amongst w22? very many Don.! and persons of great quallity. Don Joa the Gen 4J is said also to have bee' shott in yl. head wl^ two bulletts & could not bee found, all yl baggage and ordinance taken.

They write further yl the Lord Geo. Digby had charg'd yJL Lord high Chancelll Hide w* 15 articles of high treason and presented y?L to yl" house of Lords, yl yl. Judges have give' their oppinion yl yl p.iiculars in yl charge amoA not to high treason, but to high misdemeanoE! . The parliament is adjourned untill March next, also yl further consideration of yl charge referred untill yl Parliaments next meeting, for other newse referr you to yl papers accompanying and wee shall againe subscribe

Yours, Surratt, yJL 20lA February 1663-64, GEO OXINDEN.

JOHN GOODIER. HENRY GARY. GER : AUNGIER,

Right WorpJI Worpi1 &cr? our horn* freinds,

To y£ CompA via Our humble service presented. Our last beares date y t 289l January, by yl " Loyall Mer-

Alcppo. chant," & " African," y» cause of their detention here so long yo? were then accquainted with,

together with what else had to that time occurred in your affaires ; wee remember but little of what was then omitted to advise you, which wee shall here supply.

One thing is y « Indico, whereof you required 300 Bales of y,er best Lahore, if procurable, at 2 maun4 per lb. & 100 bales of flat Cirqueeze, if procurable at 1 mams p. lb. neither of which you will find wee have sent you any, by reason of their extraordinary dearenesse and scarcity here, the Lahore now sold in Surat town at 67 rupl. y± maund of 37 lb; a price never heard of, which is occasioned by the great want of raines the last yeare, that of all that was sowen there came but very litle to perfection.

There succeeded an unhappy accident yJL last yeare to Ml. W™ Jones, who passing over yJL River, sitting carelessely on y± boate side, was by y i. reeling of y •. boat cast into yS. River, & could not by all the endeavours of those in the boat be recovered, but sunk, and disapeared for 4 days, when he was found dead upon y,L shoare some two miles up yJL River, which as soon as wee were informed of, wee sent & interr'd his corps in our common buriall place.

The 15"L of yi_ passed Febll by a Dutch shipp y± came from Persia, wee were happied with yours of y f, 10!lL of August 1663, which wee shall here reply to. Wee returne our thanks to Almighty God for the safe returne of the severall shipps, and make it our prayers that you may allwayes have the like successe. Wee allso thank you that you would take notice of our advices for y • early dispeeding your 1*5! to us, which hath had a like successe, by which meanes

SURAT LETTERS. 87

wee doubt not but to answere your expectations in yt procury of your desired quantities of goods, which wee are now in provision of, & hope to get them timely together, y 1 Almighty favouring us with seasonable showers, else through the drought of the last yeare, if it should againe so happen, would utterly dispeople all these parts, it being their manner to forsake their habitations, and with their families to travell into other countries, where they heard corne U cheape, to preserve them from famishing ; there are more then 500 families of weavours that are allready fled, & the rest will certainely follow, if the famine should increase, that wee shall not dare to intrust them as accustomary, & without it wee may not expect any goods, but wee hope the Almighty will be mercifull to this land, and restore them their wonted plenty.

There is in your required list 400 tuns of Quilean Pepper, & 300 bales of Cassia Lignum, neither of which wee shall be able to furnish you with, y^. Dutch having (as formerly wee advis'd you) engrossed and appropriated to themselves y •. whole Mallabarr Coast, from North to South, prohibiting both these commodities to all, enjoyning y_? Natives of y • Countrey by threats and menaces not to sell to any but themselves. Here is a merchant of quality in this town, who lately sent a shipp down this coast, who had procured towards her lading upward of 200 tuns of pepper, & a considerable quantity of Cassia Lignum, which the Hollanders understanding, sent, and tooke it all away, allowing him a slender price for it ; & this was at y £. very first at their taking Cochin ; since they have publiquely declared their claime to the whole Coast, by right of conquest. Those severall papers wee sent you, accompanying our last, that wee recA from Porcat, together with a letter now lately recA, w<* goes here inclosed, will further accquaint you of their insolent behaviour : wee have further continued your factors there, untill your order for the drawing them off, in regard wee shall not be able to procure any goods there, so long as the Hollander is suffered to rule & Governe, which he doth most tyranni- cally, to the dread & terrour of all those petty Princes : all which considered, wee shall be at a losse for as much Tunnage as the said Cassia Lignum & Quilean pepper will amo * to, that must be supplied according to your order, by yJL addition of such goods as you have here inlisted to us, which wee shall use our best endeavours to comply with.

Indico wee find you are positive for 100 bales of Lahore, & 50 of Cirqueze, wherefore wee have allready sent up to Agra to have it bought at the cheapest season, and allso that of Cirqueze, upon both which wee have imprested money.

Wee have likewise employed persons for y* procury of your Deriabands, & Mercolees, & imprested many of them allso — the Sovaguzze,s wee shall procure neerer hand, & for yl Dangarrees, & Eloes Dutties, wee are dispeeding one to Batticolla : for Raibag, & Collopore from w5^ you were formerly furnished wee dare not trust, so long as Sevagee that grand rebell reignes ; that now the said port of Batticolla is the only place left free, & unmolested, to which you can trade upon y± coast of Mallabarr, whence wee must allso expect the 200 tuns of pepper you require. It hath been in our thoughts some times wiL you would conclude concerning the dearenesse of that commodity now of late, which is occasioned by the Dutches encroaching the Coast along, that allready pepper is risen in this town from 9 to 10 mandl. the maund, to 18 mandl the maund. They have now in this road 3 shipps, great & small from Cochin, that have brought up good quantities of pepper & cassia lignum, w£* they sell here at strange unusuall rates.

The other commodities which you require of Chints, broad & narrow ; Quilts great, & litle Tapseles ; Neccanees ; blew Baftas ; Salecs ; Brawles ; Guinea stuffes ; Baftas white, broad, and narrow, all which being goods made neare, and about our residence, wee doubt not but to furnish with.

You mention in a premention pacquet, wherein you enclosed severall patterns of Chints, was allso a pattern of Guinea stuffes, which were commonly 12 yards long, 3 peices in one, striped

b 1255—10

38 SURAT LE'lTERS.

with red, & white, which pattern was with that packet lost, and that you now send anotheT which wee doe not find among the other patterns of Chints &^L except it be a remnant of stuffe striped red, and white, which is woven throughout in one peice, and doe containe y4 lengths & breadths you mention, which are not procurable here, but at Metchlepatam, where- fore in our next fe thither wee shall advise them to procure, & send you the quantities you write for ; likewise the Batelias you write were sent from hence by the "Constinople Merch_^," which in y_? perusall of y£ bookes of accompts wee find to be remaines came from Persia, of such goods as were sent from the Coast of Cormandell, & not procurable here, wherefore shall advise so much, desiring them to furnish you thence ; and thus having advised what you may expect from us, & what we cannot in any wise procure, considering the tunnage that you intend us, there will be at least 250 tuns wanting for the impleating your shipping, wherefore wee shall be necessitated to enlarge if possible upon all those procurable, strictly observing your order to send nothing of what you have prohibited.

Your Presid 1 returnes his humble thanks for your acceptance of that small service per- formed by him at his first arrivall, in his treaty with y_£ Govern L and the rest of the Kings Ministers : wee have ever since lived free & unmolested, excepting some small rubs at the new Govern 1 first comming which was suddenly remov'd, that wee have uninterupted proceeded in the management of your affaires, without being obstructed in any wise.

Wee take notice of the indemnity granted us in Court, for our deviation from your g'rall orders, in sending down j± " Hopewell " to Porcat, to fetch thence those, & the Calevelha goods, since which wee have been constrained to fall into the same errour, through the necessity that was upon us ; but now that you have signified your wills in that nature, wee doe promise all punctuall observance to such your g'rall commands, since you conclude that such liberty may be very destructive to you, accounting it our happinesse that you have so good an opinion of us, which wee shall study to preserve, and manifest upon all occasions : we confesse the extravagant practices, and ill contrivances of late yeares, may well make you cautious of giving such liberty, & therefore wee are satisfied, and will to our utmost observe, & persue such orders, & directions as you shall from time to time give us.

What Broad cloth came in the " Loyall Merch4" & " African," you will find by our 1™ by said shipps was againe sold at a lump, though it was somewhat under the price of that came on the " Richard & Martha ;" it was the most wee could procure, & thought it better to part with it, considering the quantity was as much more then that of former yeares, then to keep it by us, and sell it by retail : wee allso take notice of what you writ by those ships, concerning the putting it of at 5 or 20 p. cent more or lesse, conditionally by that meanes great quantities may be disposed off, which wee have well weighed, & debated amongst ourselves, & are perswaded y * should you lower the prices, that you make not more then 5 p. cent advance, yet shall not wee be able to dispose of more then what you annually send, and therefore it will be your interest that wee hold up the prices to betwixt 4 & 5 rupA the yard since the other way which you propound will not take effect, for wee can experimentally tell you, that in the time of y t open trade, when cloth was sold for 10 & 20 p. cent losse, yet would it not vend, but lay upon our nations hands, from yeare to yeare, untill MJL Wyche came out, who bringing but a small quantity for your accompt & a restriction of all others, rais'd its esteeme. Our endeavours in moderating our house expences, and charges on the Marine, hath not been fruitlesse, for you may please to examine those accompts gone home in the " Loyall Merchi" you will find how thrifty wee have been on your behalfe, to which if you please to add our good husbandry for you in other perti- culers, which cannot so well be seen, being involved in the generall bookes of accompts, wee can with assurance say, that you now sit at some thousand pounds lesse charge, then you have done since your first uniting.

SURAT LETTERS. 39

Wee shall write to the coast p. next conveyance for the disolving y •. factory at Calevelha, they being best drawne of to them, as nearest, so may soonest repaire thithJl.

Wee hoped to have sent you sufficient attestations, & testimonies, to make Ml. Andrews liable to the satisfying you that debt of Tulcidas, made by Mi. Wyche, for as in our former, so wee againe declare, that he was, & could not be ignorant of it, & ought to have made it good unto you, out of a great estate then he had in his possession of M L Wyches, which he afterwards paid out to Banians.

Wee are very sorry you are not satisfied w** the sending home ML Andrewes, if his deten- tion here would any wayes have advanced you, wee should certainely have detayn'd him ; wee had thought the reasons given in ours that accompanied him, had been sufficient, wherein wee declare his utter deniall to be accomptable to us ; besides wee did not think he was returned so slightly, for wee did make strict enquiry, & gathered together what possible wee could, which were put into attestations, and the truth thereof confirmed, wc^ wee did conclude did ipso facto forfeit not only his former bonds, but this latter which wee tooke from him for 10000 lbs. ste'» & againe wee were accquainted with the bill of ExchJ? which was drawne on you, which wee were assured by Ml. John Lambton, then living, & others, would be stopt, whereby wee con- cluded you would have sufficient in your hands to satisfie for whatever demands yoi could make upon him ; more over he began to be very factious, & troublesome here, where before he went away he did the ill office of setting Si. Abraham Shipman, & your Preside at variance, besides other mischeifs that he was a hatching, that wee feared when he would have obstructed us in our businesse, for wee were informed he was tampering with divers to that purpose : wee cannot think you beleive wee did it in favour to him, to whom wee owed none, either in respect to you, or his behaviour towards us, & wee hope our late III per the " Loyall Merchant," & "African", coppy whereof goth herewith, will testifie for us, wherein wee have detected him of all whatever wee can gather, wherein he hath either falcified his trust, or acted to your prejudice, for wee doe assure you wee have so much indignation against him for his perfidious breach of trust, that wee shall conceale nothing that shall come to our knowledge, wherein he hath wronged you, but wee shall make you accquainted wlh it : Bladwell & he were copartners in y* trade, both to Macasser, & Siam, but so private they were in the managing of it that allthough it be sufficiently known, yet cannot wee prove it against him — the said Bladwell was sent unto you p. the " Convertine", long before this your last order, else would wee have detained him a prisoner, & not have sent him, allthough he did positively deny to give any answer, or accompt to any question wee demanded of him.

Your Presidl is much concerned, & indeed troubled that the good Lady Lambton should give herself e that trouble to procure the Kings Maj*j!! letter, & allso petition you concerning her deceased sonnes estate, & the 2 surviving brothers, the accompt of all which hath been misrepresented to her, by some unworthy person, who hath been sent home, as not meriting your service, who having no other way to be revenged, hath sought thus to defame him, & trouble the Lady ; your Presid*, having not done any thing but what is warrantable from your orders, by which he hath acted ; as first Ml Lambton dying suddenly, his 2 brothers being then at Surat, & your Preside upon the Marine, Ml John Goodier being present, was enordered upon notice given of the death of si. Lambton, to repaire immediately to Surat, & taking the Steward with him, to his chambers, lock, & seale up the doores, where was his 2 brothers, who lay in the deceaseds lodgings, by which meanes Ml Goodier was necessitated to lock in severall things of theirs, that were mixed with the deceaseds, untill a convenient time might be appointed for yJ: seperating of them, which was accordingly done at the opening the doores, when Richard & Ralph were both called to make claime, to receive their own»

40 SURAT LETTERS.

which was all at the same delivered them, in the presence of Mi Gerald Aungier, ML Robert Barber, & the Steward, the like was all papers & accompts belonging unto them, that there was only in dispute a chest, which contained certaine monies, part whereof belonged unto yourselves, & others, that it could not then be decided to whom properly it did belong, & therefore that no losse might ensue thereon, it was put to interest, untill the right owners could more clearely be made out, whether or no Ml. John Lambton might not have some part or portion thereof, belonging to his accojL, which being afterwards decided, was paid in unto Ralph Lambton, long before this your l're, or the Ladys petition came to hand ; & so farr was your PresidL from keeping back any thing whereto the surviving brothers had a just pretence ; & whereas the petition declareth that Si George Oxinden had gotten all the estate of the said John Lambton into his hands, and thereupon gives out that the said deceased was indebted to him 3000 Ri, which he denieth ever to have spoken, as a thing f alee in itself e, & therefore he is confident cannot be proved by sufficient testimony, and that the said Si George Oxinden never laid claime to more then 300 & odd pounds, which appeares to be due by accompts between them, which it seems in the voyage home is multiplyed to 3000 Zl, and indeed holds proportion with what the Lady Lambton hath heard, & set forth to you in her petition. Further wee doe all testifie, that neither Ralph, nor Richard, ever were denied to view all, or any of their brothers bookes, & papers, but on the contrary wee doe affirme by our subscription to this l're, that no accoi. concerning their brother John was made up without communing with them, especially Richard, who, 'tis believed was wholly accquainted with his businesse ; & that there might be all faire dealing, to the satisfaction of them at home, as well as abroad, there hath been appointed Ml Gerald Aungier, & Mi Charles Smeaton, for the perfecting the accoti. which were indeed in peece meales, and broken loose papers, hard to be understood, and that your Preside (as the Lady pretends) hath not medled at all with them, or the estate of her sonne John, who was but bare of necessaries when he died, and put to that necessity that he knew not where to borrow lOOrupl to pay his servants wages, being to all so vastly indebted, that none would trust him further. Nor hath your Presid * (as the Lady pretends) sent her sonnes to any remote places. Indeed Ralph is lately gone to Mocho, upon his request, & petition, & allso desires to continue in j% Countrey doubting his condition at home may not be so good, which makes it appeare that your Pi. is not so potent an adversary to her surviving sonnes, as her petition would make the world believe and thus your Pi hath answered the Ladys petition in every perticuler which he hopes will be to your, & her satisfaction, it being the plaine truth of what hath passed betwixt her sonnes, and us, since the decease of their brother. Indeed wee did endeavour to prevent the owning Mi John Lambtons estate for their own, which they have all along endeavoured to doe, having been detected in the very act, which wee have great cause to suspect, when you shall be informed that Richard, who'was but a few yeares since a young lad, raw, and unvers'd in anything, whose sight is so weake that he can hardly see to write, should be now master of an estate of 2000 or 3000 Z« and his brother John, that lived so many yeares in your service, should die indebted 7000 or 8000L St! whose failing condition was so generally known to all, for some yeares before he died, that it became common discourse in England before your Pi came over this last time, & therefore no wonder as the Lady seemes to make it, who reckons his estate by the many yeares he hath served you in India.

Wee take notice of your aversnesse to have any shipping detained in India, which wee shall use our utmost endeavours to prevent, & in case there shall, to observe your directions in giving her credit for what freight she shall make, & making her Di for all her charges, & expences made on her whatsoever, allso the Purser of the Marine is advised to expresse in his bookes of seamans wages, &2? in what shipps & service those to whom he payes any part

8VBAT LETTERS. 41

of their wages were imployed in, and how long in such imployment, expressing it in their acco1* that shall be sent home.

Wee have considered of what you write concerning your factory of Persia, making your 2 propositions you there incert unto them, enordering Ml Cradocke to repaire to us by the next Bussora shipps that shall call there, and Ml Fflower, MJL Swinglehurst to continue, but not to journey up to Spahawn ; & this course wee have at last thought the best, for a yeare, two, or three, & not to draw them totally of, lest it cause a dispute of that small pittance wee now receive from them ; conditionally those remayning factors now that the grandeur is taken off, will be more moderate in their expences, which if you shall approve of, rather then to leave the port void of any English, be pleased to confirme by your next.

Wee have by a Jounk that arrived from Acheen rec£ another l're from the Queen, confirm- ing her former promises in granting you the whole trade of that Island, as that of Tecoo, Priaman, Porah, Baroose, & severall other ports & places, on the west coast, all yeilding great store of commodities, propper for this place, Persia, Bussora & Arabia ; as Tin, pepper, Benjamin, Camphire, Agala Sapan wood, Gold, &??. This her proffer proceeds from her feares of the Dutches tyrannizing over them, being very jealous that they intend this yeare to block up all these severall places, not suffering any trade or commerce to be admitted of but their own & that at their tearmes : wee confesse if you might not be impeeded by the Hollander it might afford you as great & greater proffit then the dealings you now have out and home for great quantities of goods of the product of this place, allso of Metchlepatam & the Coast ; but it is in vaine to think the Dutch will suffer us quietly to injoy any trade thither except some conditions could be made with them at home.

Here is sent the Shawbunder of Acheen to us, with these overtures, whom wee have treated civilly & are now sending your servL Ml Henry Gary with some other of your factors on your shipp "Vine" with our answer, which is to the purport of what wee wrote you by the " Loyall Merchl". how that 'tis a businesse of great weight, & wee may not undertake it without first advising you, which wee should by the next opertunity, & wait your answer to proceed accordingly : the Queen is further very earnest with us to setle a factory there, which in regard to the great respect and civillity shown to our nation in generall, & people in perticuler, wee have thought convenient to doe it, especiall at this nick of time that wee appeare to have an intereste in yi. trade, wherefore Ml Cobb and Mi Hardresse are appointed to be left there, and Ml Gary to returne.

It was the 19^ of the passed month before wee could dispatch your Surat Ffrigat for Bantam, occasioned by yl. late disturbance that befell us in Surat, by that Re bell Sevagee's approach : she hath laden on her for your accoi according to the invoice, & bill of lading rupl 55705 : 71 pice, in such goods as they required, which wee wish may arrive in safety to our fellow servants.

Here hath been this yeare 5 shipps of the Hollanders viz_* 1 from Persia, 2 directly from Cochin, 1 from Batavia, & 1 from Japan, which latter brings the newes of a sad losse they have sustained, by foule weather, in those seas, for of 6 sail that were richly laden from Japan this yeare, there are but three saved, whereof one arrived hither, one for Persia, a third for Bengala, the other 3 cast away by violent stormes ; that they saved not any thing ; further wee are informed that the great noise they made of a fleet of 25 sail of shipps that went against Tywan, is come to nothing, but are return'd without being able to doe any thing against it ; only in their voyage they met with 2 China Jounks, which they tooke, & made prize of, a third they met with, & lam'd, but she got into Japan, where they made theyr complaint to the

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42 SUBAT LETTERS.

Emperour, who 'tis said was much offended, & hath detained 70 chests of silver, to make satisfaction for what further roberies, shall be proved against them.

Ml. Cotes who was left at Siam by Mi, Bladewell, is returned here, who accquaints us that the Hollander (taking advantage of the King of Siams sending abroad 12 Jounks, which are expected to returne very richly laden from China, and Japan) have pickt a quarrell with y± port & blockt it up, intending to make prize of yl vessells.

This King hath taken very heavily y 1 plundering and burning of his town, & port of Surat, and hath vowed revenge upon the Rebell. Our last accquainted you how that wee were then in action, by solliciting yl severall Commanders of armies that came down (though too late) upon notice given them of Sevagees approach ; allso that wee were then writing a petition to the King, for a reward for our good service done him, which since wee are informed was by our f reinds in Court (to whom your President wrote) delivered into the Kings hand, wherein wee hinted our expectations that he would remit us all your Customes ; whereupon the King after he had taken it into his most gracious consideration, hath sent down an order, that the whole Customes of all merchts_ should be remitted for one entire yeare, the benefit whereof wee hope you will reape in your next yeares shipps out & home ; & Mohobut Ckaun the Governour of Ahmadavad, & Gen1*, of the province of Guzzerat, adviseth your P % that upon his request to the King, in lieu of our good service, on our behalf es, and yl solicitation of f reinds at Court, it is resolved upon the expiration of the yeare, the King will give us the J part of all your Customes free ; & this when by our endeavours wee shall effect, wee shall hope for a suitable reward from you our masters, whilst the thing it selfe shall remaine as a lasting memorial!, of our active willingnesse to promote your interest.

Your President is yet further thankfull, for y± liberty he hath given him for the employ- ing of his 2 shipps in India, for his own accol from port to port, & promises that he neither will directly, nor indirectly, wrong you of any part of your Persian Customes, or suffer such abuse to be done by others, in as much as in him lieth : He did y* last yeare at times send them both to Persia, wholly laden with freight goods, without the value of 6^ stock of his own, but the goods put into the Customes House, from whence you had your part of Customes ; the whole lading of the shipps belonging to these countrey merchl?, which arriving thither were no small reputation to our nation, & allso advantage to yourselves, for now that you have no shipping or commerce in India, were it not for these 2 shipps, it would be much more difficult for you to procure that pittance of Customes now paid you, wherefore whenever your P_r sends them to that port, (or indeed to any other) they goe allwayes consign'd to your factors, & reputed to belong to the Honbi£ Comp5, which as said is not only some credit that you have not totally deserted yoL. egresse & regresse to that port, but allso a meanes that your duties are the more readily paid.

At Ml Garys returne from Acheen, that Queen delivered him a l're, & present for his Maj!^, viz* a peice of lignum Aloes, a peice of Collumback, a Bezar stone* of a porcupine &S1 expressed in the letter, the coppy of said letter was there taken by Ml. Gary, which goeth here inclosed, which l're &c± was delivered unto Mi. Andrewes, to be tendered to the Governour of the

* Bezar or Bezoar, a medicinal stone formerly in high repute as an antitode. — [Persian pa — against; zahar = poison] . Tavernier writes — " There is another stone in great esteem, that is called the Porcupine's stone, which that creature is said to carry in its head, and is more precious than Bezoar against poison. If it be steeped in water a quarter of an hour, the water becomes so hitter, that nothing can be more bitter. There is also a stone sometimes found in the belly of that creature of the same nature ; and as good as that which comes from the head ; nevertheless with this difference, that being steep'd in water, it loses nothing of its weight nor bulk, as the other does. I have bought in ray time three of those stones. One of them cost me 500 Crowns, and I exchanged it to advantage. I paid four hundred Crowns for the other, which I keep : the other was sold me for 200 Crowns, which I presented to a friend- — Tavernier's Voyages, Part II, page 154.

8URAT LETTERS. 43

East India Compi:, to be presented to our Royall Soveraigne. Wee have formerly spoke of this in our last 1're by the shipps which please to enquire into, that her Maj'J? of Acheen may have an acco * thereof, being very inquisitive concerning it.

M-L Matthew Fforsters accol hath some yeares depended upon Ballance, in expectation whether he might not be indebted unto you since his residence in Persia, but finding by their acco^, & further examinations, that all things stand cleare between him and the Hony? Comp±, be pleased to pay the Ballance of his accol, as it shall appeare in your genii bookes, to that p. son yl shall have right to demand it.

All rumours of warrs are at present over with us, wee hope wee shall continue in peace and unmolested this ensuing winter. If any thing of commotion shall happen, wee promise you our utmost endeavours to preserve yol. estate, according to our obligations.

Yesterday by a Dutch shipp from Persia, wee rec£ transcript of your WorE£? letter of the 20^ August, via Legorne, and Aleppo, with the patterns enclosed, and other papers inlisted.

Ffor want of acco*± from Porqua & Calvelha, & other summes that are dubious upon Ballance of the general! bookes, wee are uncapable to give you an exact calculate of your quick stock, or to bring it nearer then the ballance of the bookes sent you by the shipp " Loyall Merchl", coppy whereof wee now againe send you, with ballance of the Carwarr & Acheen bookes.

Wee have likewise sent you an accompt drawn up by the Purser of the Marine, of severall summes due to seamen employed upon the Surat Ffrigat, more then the Pursers accompli sent you home p. the shipp " Loyall Merch* " doth mention.

You were advised in a remembrance of the rectified accompts sent you home by the last shipps, that wee supposed some other things would be found out to be added to Ml. Andrewes accol.- In the bookes ballanced by Ml. Andrewes, and sent home on y% "Richard & Martha," he hath charged Ml Gary with 200 rup?L for a horse, paid for out of your cash, both in Scinda and Surat, which mony was both times rec^ by ME. Andrewes, of Mi. Scrivener, & your sheroffe here, who testifie the same, yet by him but once made good to Mj: Gary, whose horse it was, wherefore M.'L Andrewes is to make good 200 rup4 to yol. acco.*.. Mi. Rolt stands charged in your bookes ballance for 500 rupl, which summe Trickum proves he paid him and further declares, that the said summes by M^ Andrewes order was by him brought, & delivered to M.I Rolt in Surat, who carried it to Umbra, for paym^ of the " Wellcomes" men, but MlL Rolt denies to have received any such summe, or to remember any such passage, & upon examination of accompts, wee find the " Wellcomes" men were paid with other mony, delivered the Purser of the shipp. There is allso 2000 rupi remayning upon your Ahmadavad factories accol being so much remitted hence upon bill of Exchange, which summe is not acknowledged to be received in the Ahmft bookes, as y_E may please to read in the ballance of our last bookes now sent, & that the aforesaid Trickum who hath credit allso for this 2000 rupf. in accol affirmes that Mi Andrewes licenced Joi Lambton to take the said summe out of your cash, who upon his perticuler accol remitted it to Ahmadavad ; wee desire you will please to enquire of Ml Andrewes concerning these 2 summes and advise us how wee shall cleare them from ballance. Wee conclude with the presentation of our most humble service, as wee are

Your most faithfull & obliged servants,

Swally Marine yl 4% Apill 1664. GEORGE OXINDEN.

JOHN GOODIER. HENRY GARY. GERALD AUNGIER.

44 SURAT LETTERS.

The* 23^ December imported here a ship belonging to the King of Bantam called the " Blessing," Cap*. Anderson Commander ; she touched at Bombay in her coming up ; she is bound for Mocha & Bussora and to returne hither, & from hence to lade for Bantam next yeare so that we feare the markets will be some what overcharged with goods especially at Bantam.

The 3 1st X^?? the Ffrench fleet commanded by Monsl. La Hay set saile from the rivers mouth, but there is no certainty whither they are bound ; they shaped there course towards Goa, where 'tis believed Monsl. La Hay will stay some time to treat with Viceroy of Goa about some private designes between y™, and also to supply his Ffleet with provitions w5^ he much wants; they have laden on board their ships at Swally Marine a great quantity of timber for plat- formes of a ff ort & sparrs for pallizadoes, they have also laden quantitye of bricks & tiles, so that 'tis certaine they designe some settelmi, but where is not yet discovered. Some ffancy it to be on the Mallabar Coast neer Cocheen, others on y •. Island Banca or some other place on y-% South Seas ; others also weighing their want off all sorts necessary for such a designe doe conceive they will returne to English for rest ; & there stay till they are better supplyed ; but it will not be long before this misterious designe is discovered & then we shall not faile to advise yoi overland. They have gained a very light name here by their lightness, ill Govermi. of their owne people, and worse dealing with the natives whom they have kept long out of their monys to their small creditt. *j

The noise w* the Ffrench fleet made in the Court at Agra caused yJL Mogull to send downe another GovJL with 2000 horse, being the same was Gov £.5 years since by name Ghiasty Caun. He formerly was a great freind to us, & promises fair now, but we expect some trouble from him in regard that some ill disposed officers of the towne last year turned out, failing the great pre- sents from us w<^_ they exected, have given the King strange informations concerning your Island Bombay, so that we judge it necessary to temporise a little at presJL & make as little noise of Bombay as may be, that we may the better prevent a storme w * otherwise may be raised ; for though we little concerne ourselves for any danger as to your Island, where the Mogulls force cannot come neer us, yet we know 'tis in this Gov *. power to bring great distur- bance to y4. body of your trade w*_lyes in this country wfL we judge most safe & consistent with your interest to avoide by all prudent & lawfull ways wee can contrive, as the state of your affaires stands at present. Wee take due notice of y ±. wise caution wf*. you give us to keep a fair understanding with the GovrmJL of Suratt & not to thinke of leaving our settlemJL here; we declare unto you that we are so farr from having any thoughts of leaving Suratt, that we judge it your interest to continue as firme a settlement & large a trade as ever, notwith- standing your Island Bombay ; for seing your trade is so much enlarged of what it was there will be a necessity not only to continue these goods ports wherein we are settled, but also to find out more, for the better vent of the great quantitys of goods w°Jl you send out, & provi- tions of the Cargazoons wi* you enordered for Europe; & though our eyes & thoughts are as sincerely fixed on the raise of your Island Bombay as becomes us, yet we doe not approve of over hasty proceedings, nor shall we ever advise you to use force, or engage in fatall quarells with your neighbours to attaine that end ; w^ though they may in the beginning be successf ull doe seldome end w*^ a blessing: thus much we have thought fitt to write on this subject for yo.1! satisfaction, assuring yo^L that as we are resolved to doe no wrong, nor give any just occasion of misunderstanding, so we shall not easily submitt to unjust force but in such case shall governe ourselves as God shall direct us, for the best security of your interest & trust committed to us. Now we are on discourse of yoZ Island Bombay we humbly recommend to yoJL certaine rude proposalls w?^ have offered themselves to our thoughts tending as we hope to

* Many pages are wanting in the MS. volume and there is a gap of seven years between this letter and the previous one.

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render y e.. Colony usefull in some measure to England ; & in a condition to beare its own charge ; we intreat yo S. to receive yJL under your debate & what part thereof yo n shall in your wisdoms determine worthy to be put in practise please to strengthen us with sufficient power & instructions that your orders may be the more fully obeyed. Your ship " George " & " Charles" y •. former whereof we expect suddenly from Queda ; the latter now lying in on freight for Persia are weakly mannd having lost most of their men by mortallity wj^. we have supplyed from Bombay ; but for the better maning of your shipping as also y_*. Brignadines or frigats to be built ; & hoighs &™ hereafter, we humbly propose yJL 'twould be necessary to require all y • Commanders of the shipping yoJL send to these p*t to bring out supernumerary men accord- ing to their respective burthens at y •_ owners charge, yJL so they may leave some spare men behind y_51 by w£!i meanes yo_L ships will be yJL better supplyed without charge to yo-5_, there will also want some mates and masters for such frigats w£^. shall be designed to be built for yJL use of yo_L Island Bombay. We are in want of a trumpeter & wish yoJL would please to send us one out that is able, for that these great men doe often fancy the sound of our trumpets & send to us for them when wee have one, & in regard the Ffrench have two, & the Dutch one, 'twill not be seemly for us only to be without ; we at present serve ourselves for fashions sake of a young man who hath little or no skill ; if yoA please to favour us therein we intreat y J_ care may be taken that he be orderly & well disposed in his conversation. There is one Jn •. Simp- son a matross on your Island Bombay who hath desired that you would please to give leave for his wife and family to come out on the next shipping, touching w?j! matter we humbly refeer yoJL to his owne petition wc1l will be presented to yo^.

Cap A Henry Young hath paid into yoJL Cash R for will we have given him our

bills uppon yoi!. f or £ payJL to at days after arrivall of ship w£>) bills we

pray yolL to HonnJL with acceptance & due payment. Wee have laboured under much trou- ble and thoughts of heart in gathering together ladings for these ships from the sev4L Ffactorys by reason of the frequent disturbance of Caphilaes ; by Armys passing to & fro wcJ| have much retarded our goods & is the reason that many of those goods wJj^L you ordered are left behind & in p.ticular your Chints with broad branches ; none of w£?L are as yet arrived, nor can we now keep yJL ships for y ™L, or any other goods, but being full laden with such goods as we have in readines we thinke good to dispatch them to you, all w ** goods we trust you will find cheap & good in their severall species ; the Comanders of the ships complaine exceedingly for want of kint- lage & of the quantitys of light goods laden on y ™_ w^L hath caused some discontents, but the great quantitys of pepper they have all taken in makes yi? amends. Invoice of the sevJL goods laden on these ships goe herewith the abstract whereof e is as f olloweth : —

On ship "Ffalcon" Cap A. Seaman the amol^of Rupees ; on ship " Massingbird" CapA.

Westlacky?_ amo*_of RupA. ; on ship " Antelope" CapL.Goldborough y« ... amol_of Rupl.

Totall All wft beseech God in his good providence send safe unto you. On ship " Ffalcon" we

send yo . ™ a box 1 p. our gen J books of accoA*. with sev4i other books of subordinate Ffactorys, as also our consultation Books &™ all wch_we humbly recommend to your judicious & candid considera- tion, beseeching yo *. to receive our services with a favourable acceptance, to pardon such errors w^. through weakness of our capacity s or want of judgment or experience you shall discover us to have committed, for as to willfull faelts acted to your prejudice or open breach of your orders we hope yoi will find none; & in case your auditor shall make any scruple against any of y±. proceedings or contracts, we humbly begg they may be timely advised while matters are fresh in our memorys & may be well answered for y±. better clearing of the truth : yoJL are pleased to require your President to signe yoJL Gen1! books ; he humbly offers that as a thing unaccustomary he might reasonably wave it ; & the rather for that y±. extraordinary weight & pressure of your Genl! affairs cannot allow him leisure to examine one side thereof, yet to

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manifest his obedience to your order & the great confidence wi* he hath in your Justice & honourable proceedings with all your servants he hath comply A_ with your Commands, assuring himself, that yo Ji will not take advantages thereof, to offer him the least prejudice, or call him to answer for any thing but what in Justice ought to be laid to his charge.

Your Presid*. hath proposed to CapJl Henry Young in the presence of yol Councell that y «L difference between y HL might be referred to & ended by arbitration either of your Councell or yJL Command 5L of your ship, or any else whom he hiraselfe would thinke good to chuse & notwithstanding he much pi waded w^l1 him, on prudent considerations as well in respect to yJL jjonbie^ Comp_5_ service as their owne mutuall satisfaction, yet CapJ_ Young doth positively refuse it ; whereupon yoJL Presidi thinks good in all humble manner to give yoJL notice that he can- not with any ground of reason consigne any shipp or goods for his owne acco JL to Gombroon while that Cap _L Young is there, but must be forced hereafter to freight them for Cong Bander, Reague or Bussora, or send them on other voyages for reasons wJ* your wisdom will justify him in ; whereof he thought it his duty to acquaint yoJL. A list of what p.mission goods are laden on the ships goeth in the Gen 1L pacquet together with what enncomdoes the merchants have laden on board, whereof your PresidiL doubts not your wonted favour in granting him his part.

The 8 Currl the " Advance " Cap L. Bennett arrived from Gombroon, laden with some goods for yoJi owne acco JL& also some on freight together with 240000 shahees in ready money; most of the goods are designed for Bantam excepting 100 sacks of Carmania wooll WiL will serve for your next years ships ; we shall dispeed the ship away with all hast possible ; of wch & wb.at else relating to Bantam we shall advise in our overland letter the Genii from Persia wciL the invoyce goes herewith.

It having pleased God to deprive us of M rr Powell your Chirurgeon at Bombay & his mate ; & being wholly distitute there at present, we thought good to entertaine Bennet Chirurgeons

mate of your ship " Antelope" with yJL CapJL consent for the supply of the Island at per

month. Ml Robert Ward who hath so long served Chirurgeon of your house in Surrat, hath much importuned for his discharge and having proposed M* Tho. Peirce Chirurgeon of ship " Ff alcon" to supply his place, the Cap JL also giving his consent, we have thought good to gratify Ml. Wards desires, in granting him passage on ship " Falcon."

Your PresidJL had determined with some Councell to take his passage on those ships for your Island Bombay having many matters of no meane importance to act there ; but as cir- cumstances now stand with this new feirce Gov_L who hath already begun to trouble our neigh- bours & p.ticularly the Ffrench, whome he threatens to turne out of the towne, we doe not judge it prudence to offer him occasion of offence by leaving the towne so imediately on his arrivall, but rather to stay, till matters are little more quiet, intending God willing to goe downe by the ''Advance", by w^L time we trust yoJL concerns here will be best in a fair posture in order to yoJLnext years InvesfHi. However we have now sent a good supply downe to Bombay of goods and treasure for the defraying yo JL great charge there at present.

The Mahagen or cheife Councell of the Banians have been much satisfied w^L the answer wch_ y0U were pleased to give to their petition sent you by ship " Samson" touching their privi- ledges on Bombay, and it seems they have determined once more to trouble yo JL HonaJL. w'Jl a letter w* they have ordered your Broker Bimgee Parrack to write, representing their desires, yJL y JL sA. priviledges may be confirmed to yJJl under yoJL great zeale, for w4*L their request they give yoJi their reason & ground in their owne letter w°1l they have sent us to be trans- mitted to yoiL & now goes in yoJL pacquet by ship " Falcon."

SURA.T LETTERS. 47

The argument they use to strengthen their request seems to have some weight ; for they say y •. Honnkl? CompJL are perpetual] & their ordinances always of force, hut their Presid •. & C'ouncell are mutable & the suceeding Presidents & Councells doe offten alter what their prede- cessors have granted, on wh°J> score they hope yoJ_ Honu J«L will be pleased to grant their peti- tion. As to our Judgm *■. hereon, we humbly offer that we cannot see any detr'mi i can accrew to yo !L, thereby rather a considerable advantage may follow ; & as to the latitude & extent of what priviledges yo.!L shall afford yli it must be totally referred to yoJL owne wisdoms, however yo_u_ shall please to determine in this matter; we judge if your IIonuEL would please to favour them with a line in answer to their letter it would be a great comfort to them & no disadvan- tage to your interests.

The Ff rench fleet being still on the coast of India & now as its thought at Goa, we have thought good to oblige the Commanders of these ships in their Commissions to keep Company not only so long as they are on the Coast India but also to SJL Hellena, & from thence also to joine themselves with what strength they can meet with of your shipping for their greater security in case of any rupture in Europe w^L. God divert, to whose gratious providence and protection we recomend yoJL estate & trade in these & all other p^l of India & in all obsequi- ous address wee remaine

Your honour humble Servi., Sto*. Marine, 10* January 1671. GERAL£ AUNGIER.

MATT^ GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. ALEX* GRIGBIE.

May it please your Honours,

Our most humble services in all obsequious manner tendered &£»: though we have wrott yoiLat large by your last years under the 10 ill January w?Lwe trust will anticipate any over land advices, yet this opportunity presenting we have esteemed it our dutys to tender yo !L the breife heads of an overland letter.

Your ships arrived seasonably at your Island Bombay on yj!_17^L and 22A August but it was the 23 A September before they were all at an Anchor in Swally hole ; from hence " Phoenix," " Antelope, " " Falcon " & " Massingbird " were dispeeded downe y 1. coast to their sev^ stations while yofl owne ship "London" took in her lading for England ; but some impedm *_ interveening it was yJL 9!£ of November before she sett saile from Swally hole. The " Phoenix * designed for Bantam had a teadious voyage to & from Battacalla, she returned the 16^1 November & was

dispeeded from Bantam the passed m^_ December with stock amoXto Rup_£_ The other

three ships " Falcon, " " Massingbird " & " Antelope " returned seasonable unto us & set saile in compJL full laden on the 13 111 January, being enordered to stay in the road of Bombay 48 hours in their way downe ; & so to proceed on their yoyJL, & to keep comp *_ together for greater strength. Abstract of what cargoes are consign'd to your HonniL by s *. ships goe herewith. We beceech God to conduct them safe unto yo_!L.

Your ship " George " is not as yet arrived from Quedah but we expect her every day ; your " Little Charles " after some though small service done you in bringing goods from Carwar hath now taken freight goods for Persia after 3 months stay in port ; freights being now very dead,

48 SURAT LETTERS.

& no merchants caring to lade their goods on so little ships when there are neer 20 great Jounks ready whose owners take in any goods at any rate rather then let their ships lye by the walls. Your Island Bombay, your Ff actory of Carwar, Billiapatan, Callecut & c^ are, blessed be God, in an happy & orderly posture ; the latter eased at pres L of those disturbances w^of late discomposed yI!L& already furnished us with sufficient stock for provition of y JL next years investm JL w£*L they are in hand, with a promise to gett ready against yJL ships arrivall.

The " Advance" is now with us, with M_L_ Hanion Gubbon & Albmus Willoughby supra cargoes, by whose advise we keep her in Port some days for the provition of quilts designe for Ty wan, but shall send few other goods besides what they have brought from Persia ; the Bantam markets being already over charged having issued out our directions for a large investm 4- of goods, to be sent thither in October next, in pursuance of your orders to us of the 23 A June & 17-^ July reci.- by the said ship via Alleppo. Wee have now by us, in pepper & goods ready embaled, about 200 tuns for the next ships, & have already sent out our instructions to all the inland ffactorys for provition of the cargo you have enordered, & trust God to have them in a faire forwardness, if unhappy accidents doe not interveene to disturbe our course. We fear all sorts of goods for Europe will rise, for our neighbours have their brokers in all places where they have any settlem JL, & buy some quantity of goods, & whereever we make any new discovery s they soon follow us to your no small detriment ; Broad cloth continues very low being sold in Towne at 3| rupJL p. yard & 3^ is deemed a good price. Corrall is also in little demand, by meanes of the great quantitys brought in ; the greatest part of your owne Corrall lyes still by us unsold. Wee have already advised yoJl Honnfl y 5_ arrivall of MonsJL La Hay with his men of warr and their departure from this rivers mouth y^_ last of Xb?T, in their passage downe they stayed two days at Deman & three days at Vessava a small port on y% Island Salsett, neer yoH port Bombay, in w^ time they spent great quantity of powder according to their custome. Mon5T La Hay sent a Shallop with 80 men by way Maym & Bandora to your Ffort at Bombay w^ a complemL to your Deputy GovL for liberty to buy some fresh provitions, w0^. being granted, the master of the Shallop putting a LieuL & some few men on shore put of into yl Bay & went for the Island of Carajyaw * sounding the Bay as he went, & at night returned, & tooke yL LieuL with what provitions he had bought, who doubtless was sent on designe & will not faile to give Mon|E La Hay an accoL. in what a warlike posture he found your GovernL, all the guards being duble manned & the millitia in arms ; from Vissava, La Hay set saile for Goa (none of his ships putting into Bombay), where we here he is arrived, & that the Portugall fleet is ready consist- ing of 12 small fry gats & two ships comanded by Antoino DeMello one of y*. late Gov^?, but whether these two fleets are to joine or noe, or what either of their designes is, as yet we can- not certainly informe yo'L nor shall we trouble your Honn^ with our opinions thereon, till we have some more assured light there into. This only we humbly conceive, that wether it be against Muscat or against Cocheen or els where, there is little probability of their p.forming any great actions this yeare, for, besides from many circumstances w°^ are obvious from their owne in- sufficiency to attempt any designe of remarque, the noise they have made hath so awakened all who have the least jealousy of them, that they cannot but be well prepared to receive y1^, as 'tis said both yl Dutch & the Arrabs are.

The Ffrench Directors for their Fast India Comp^ here have sent one ship called the " Dau- phin" for Ffrance, being little more then halfe laden, her cargo consisting of Saltpeter, Indico,

Carajyaw or Karanja is the present Uran Island. It is about eight miles long and four broad and lies in the south-east of the Bombay harbour. In the sixteenth century it was a populous island with two forts one on the east in the present town of Uran and the other on the top of the southern peak.— Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XIII, 192

SUB AT LETTERS. 49

some Agra, Ahmadavad & Nundrabaud cloth ; great quantitys of Cuttanes & Allejahs, and also Drugs of sev11. sorts with some pepper; she set saile w^ the Ffleet to Goa, from whence she is to be dispeeded for Ffrance. They have a ship now intended in few days for Bantam called the " Vulture" whose cargo consists of the same goods w$ you, have enordered ; & we fear will doe yo!L much prejudice in y*. sales of your goods there.

The Dutch have had but two ships here this yeare as yet, one whereof returned for Zeilon, ye other went for Persia, & 'tis believed they will have no more come to this Port this yeare except ye.. Japan ship w^? is expected in March.

Wee have in our last advised that our beame and Troy weights for weighing of silver are defective, & desired yo'L would please to order a new supply, the same we must now also begg for Averdupoiese weights being in great want of beames & weights for all yoL Ffactorys & for Bombay ; wherefore we intreat yo'L to send us at least eight beams with weights propor- tionable great & smalL. for those w^1 we have in your warehouses here are not to be trusted to ; in your Ffactorys they have none at all, for want of w£|? they & wee cannot be so exact in our weights as otherwise we might be.

M* Thomas Rolt hath communicated to us the small success he hath found in his trouble- some attendance on the Persian Court ; declaring to us his judgm*., that unless yoL. Honn™ shall please to vindicate & maintaine your right by open force, the King of Persia will soon defeat yo'L of that small stipend of Customes w^ they have hitherto allowed yol , for that dayly they impose on yoL priviledges & by the continued molestation w^1 they put upon the mer- chants doe endeavour to distroy y£_ Port of Gombroon that they may set up Bunder Reague or some other Port'of their owne. This affaire soe neerly concerning yol we have taken under our debate, Cap*. Young being here with us in Councell ; & doe thinke it our dutys to advise yo'L that if you resolve to preserve your right of Customs at Gombroon it is necessary for you to let the Persian know that you risent their proceeding, and wee doe joyne in opinion w*^ ML Rolt &"? y*_ it is high time for yo^ to put in execution what hath bin so long threatned, y*L sus- pence whereof hath made the Persian so bold to presume on yoL goodnes ; but as to the way & method how force is to be applyed ; the computation of the charge necessary thereunto ; what ships & boats, what number of men, what sorts and store of amunition & what time will be required to carry on this designe thoroughly, is a subject of much weight & so neerly touches your Gen1}, trade & yoLHonL., that we dare not offer our raw & indigested thoughts; but wee have desired Ml Rolt and Cap*_ Young to advise seriously, & we also having reel their results, shall maturely deliberate thereon, & by returne of your next ships for Europe shall humbly offer our judgm*! of the whole affaire to yo'L wise determination.

Since departure of y«L Europe ships your accountant & purser maryne examining the remains of goods and Invoices of what goods laden have discovered an error in the " Massingbirds" cargo of ten bales of Cardimoms over Invoiced there, being charged in Invoice & bill of Laden & there were but sent up from Billiapatan or laden on the ship, wherefore we pray yo'L not to charge the Comander CapL Westlack nor the ships CompIL therewith ; for wee have rectified y<L mistake & doe yo'L right here ; wee find also a loss in weight in the lead & copper but in regard we know not how much was taken a shore at Carwar and Billiapatan being recd_ by Calculation and not weighed we can give yo'L no certaine accoL thereof ; but shall advise here- after ye_ difference.

Your Presidt had prepared himself e to take his passage on the " Advance " Ffriggot*. for Bombay & had in a miner taken his leave of the GovL. of Surrat who was well consenting there- unto ; when on a suddaine news came that Sevagee was oeer us with an army of 15J00 men

b 1255—13

50 SUB AT LETTERS.

w£k put y%- Citty in a great fright & made us prepare for defence ; this new GovL also hath bestirrd himself e more prudently then any of his predecessors, beating downe all houses without the wall, w2^ before was a shelter for the enemy, & ordering strict watch at the gates to keep in the inhabitants who were running out of the Citty ; he also sent a Civill message to your PL desiring that he would lay a side ye_ thoughts of going to Bombay at present ; for that he could not answer his departure as things now stood nor would it be well taken by the King ; his arguing being reasonable your Preside thought good to condiscend thereunto & the rather for that yoL have a considerable estate under bE_ charge, w^ he cannot leave in danger ; wherefore wee have determined to send away the " Advance" with all speed possible, hoping to dispatch her in few days after the " Charles". And for that it hath unfortunately happened that for two years together yor_ PL, hath bin hindred from going to Bombay to his owne trouble & no small detrimL to your Island, we have thought it our dutys upon serious consideration of yoL affairs to offer you o"L humble advice, that it seems now consistent with your Interest to settle your Cheife Govermt. on your Island Bombay & to that end you would please to order yo!L Preside to reside there constantly, except extraordinary emergencys may require his repaire to Surat or elswhere ; & this wee presume yo'L may doe without any discomposure to yol affairs at Surat w^L1 will be well supplyed by M*_ Mathew Gray & your present Councell, & as to Bombay we judge it will be an assured way to confirme yol interest and increse yl trade more speedily for all strangers will be yl sooner Invited to live with us ; & yl- English freemen at Bantam & Metchlepl. will be the better plwaded to settle their with their ffamilys & estates, many on yol PL invitation being prepared to goe thither ; whereunto we intreat that yo 1 HonE5 would also please to enjoyne all freemen in the said places to repaire with their ffamilys thither.

Your ship " George" arr'L to Swally hole yl 29th past from Quedah being § laden with freight goods, w^? yet will make no inconsiderable freight, though not neer w*_ she made last yeare ; but as to your owne estate, we have no accol as yet nor doe wee hear of any goods laden for your acco*L more then 14 pigs Tyn, nor doe we know certainly w*. goods are sold & what remaining for we have no Gen11 from your Ffactors. The reason of this neglect and estate of yol affairs there is caused by the unhappy deaths of Ml Geo. Davies and Mrr Jnl Portman, the latter dyed before the ship came away, of whom we have so good a character from the mer- chants & natives there that we much lament his loss. AP George Davis intended to take his passage on ship " George" unto us as he was ordered, but dyed the next day after he came on board ship ; sometime before his death he had totally lost his memory being unsensible & uncapable of any business, caused by drinking of strong Arrack as 'tis supposed : we have not as yet recS1 what papers & acco^. he hath left behind him, nor can we now keep the " Charles " longer : but intreat your patience till our next letter when we shall informe your Honnrs fully wl. we can learne & also what wee shall resolve touching the ship ; concerning w^ wee shall have a surr- veigh.

The difference formerly advised between your Pi & Cap!. Young is composed to their mutuall content, w°h we therefore advise yol that yol may expect the concurrence of then- joint endeavors to advance your interest in Persia. There being a ship lately arrived from Siam, we have advice from some of our correspondents there, that cloths of sevn. collours are in very good esteeme, wherefore for a tryall we intreat yol would please to send 60 halfe Ps of the following collours & we pray let them be of the finer sort from 10 to 20? pi yard vizi

Purple 10 ps Darke olive 5 ps_ Violet 10 Light sky 5 Muske 10 Bussett 5 Cinamon 10 Sky 5

SURAT LETTERS. 51

Wee are also advised that Amber in large peices are in great esteeme, and Corrall in large branches, w1;1' being the needfull at pressl, we respectfully remaine

Your honours humble Serv*5, Suratt, Ffebruary Si, 1671. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATT^ GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. ALEXANDER GRIGBIE.

Proposals Touching Bombay Island.

Recommended to the Honbl? Compa. by their Pr_ & Councell at Surrat.

1. That in regard the Gen1^ charges of the Island are great & doe far exceed the revenew, now that the Customs are given free & the seized lands restored ; wherefore to the end that the sole burthen of yi charge may not light on the Comp* only, seeing they reap no benefitt there by, it seems reasonable that a Gen!^ tax or assessment be enordered on the respective Inhabitants over and above the present foro ;* w5^ is only a kind of quit-rent and very inconsiderable.

2. That the si Tax be proportioned not only towards defraying the charge of the Garrison but also all other Genii charges of what nature soever, to witt,

Drawing a line of Fortification for the new towne to be built. Building a mold & Docks for shipping when it shall be thought fitting.

Building a fair Common house, wherein may be also appointed chambers for the Courts of Justice, wearhouses or Granarys for come, amunition, &^?, as also prisons for severall offenders.

Sallarys or wages for Publick officers, to witt —

For the Governour

For the D. Govern'

For y% Treasurer

For y<L Accountant

For the Councell J

For the Secretary & his Assistants.

For ye_ Judge of yi_ Courts of Judicature and his officers.

For a Porcurator Gen*L & his Clerks.

For a Publick notary.

* & his Assistants.

* " Foras" is derived from the Portuguese word "fora," (Latin for as, from foris a door) signifying outside. It here indicates the rent Or revenue derived from outlying lands. The whole island of Bombay fell under that denomination when under Portuguese rule, being then a mere outlying dependency of Bassein. Subsequently the term foras was, for the most part, though perhaps not quite exclusively, limited to the new salt batty ground reclaimed from the sea, or other waste ground lying outside the fort, native town, and other the more ancient settled and cultivated grounds in the island, or to the quit-rent arising from that new salt batty ground and outlying ground. The quit-rent in Governor Aungier's convention called foras also bore the still older name of pensio (pensao, pension), and since that convention has been chiefly known by the name of pension. It was payable in respect of the ancient settled and cultivated ground only. Bombay High Court Reports, Vol. IV, 1866-67.

52 8UJRAT LETTERS.

For a Sheriff or Cheife Constable & so many officers under him necessary.

For such other officers as shall be upon serious consideration thought necessary.

Building of 6 Gallys or Brigandines for the guard of the Port and for Convoys.

3. That the si Tax or assessml be appointed & Comanded by publick order from the HonM? Comp^ to their GovL. & Councell, who must be required to levy & proportion it in such nature as may be least burthensome to yi people and may not discourage strangers from coming to live with us ; that it be levyed only on land, & not on any goods or merchan- dise, and the rather for that the land bears no charge at all, nor hath don since it was in the EngL possession, notwithstanding the great security & freedome they have enjoyned ; whereas formerly under the Portugal! Goverml they were forced to make often subsidys & free donations towards bearing the publick charge of the State of India, & as an example hereof, the year before the possession of the Island was granted to y« Hon'ble Comp%, Capl Gary then Gov! did demand supply of the Povo : or inhabitants, who willingly offered 12000 Rl towards the building frygats and other charges, w^1 it seems was not received.

4. That a publick Register or Chamber of accolj! be appointed wherein all the presl revenues & profits of the Island shall be entred ; as also y*. Gen1), charges of y* Goverml , & y*_ yL si acco!? be committed to ye_ trust of certaine Commissioners, men fearing God & of honest reputation for preventing of any fraud or imbazleml. of the publick stock, and that a true & exact Ballance be drawne every yeare of the s* acco^, & yl. whatsoever the income or revenew of the Island fall short of the Gen1! debts or disbursing , be levyed on the people in such a manner as may be best accomodated to their ease and satisfaction.

That an excise be sett on all drinke & strong liquor. For the Encouragement of Trade.

1. That Interest be settled & reduced to 9 p. cl, & that all manner of extortion be prohibited on severe penalty.

2. That liberty be granted as a p.ticular priviledge to those that inhabitt on the Island Bombay to trade not only to all these parts of India ; but also to the Ports & Islands of the South seas, Bantam not excepted ; provided that no EnglL freemen doe settle their familys & trade in those places where the Compa_ Ffactorys are settled nor deale in any of the Compa. Comoditys.

3. That Companys or fellowships be erected for the better & more able earring on of any trade, and that certaine priviledges & immunitys to the si Societys for their greater encourageml. .

4. That for the greater advance of trade the Comp* would please to give order for the lending out certaine sums of mony to the said societys & other honest merchants, they paying interest for the same; & giving suffitient securitys either in land pawnes or other- wise for making full satisfaction ; this course & pollicy was practised formerly by the Dukes of Fflorence with very remarkable success, to y* raising the trade & much enriching the Port of Leghorne & consiquently to the great increase of his customs and revenus.

Of Trade.

5. That for the greater security of Port against Mallabars, Savgona?7 & Arrab pirates, certaine sea laws be established for encourageml of privateers, to goe out in search of sd, pirats, to whome the Compa may lend the frigate, or other vessails wc^ they build on certaine condi- tions, vizi, the said vessaile or fry gat to have so many shares of what prises shall be taken & the rest to be divided among the adventurers according to their respective proportion.

SURAT LETTERS. N

The ship -J, provition £, the men £.

6. The encouram*.. be given for Artificers & Handicrafts men of all sorts to come out & live on the Island w*£ their Familys, who must be bound to settle on y!L Island, or at least to continue so many years there, to whome for the first year or two the Comp* may allow whole pay for their prest maintenance, till they are settle in their way of trade, & that afterwards the Compi may allow y™ but halfe or quarter pay, they having meanes to live & maintainc their familys by their trades, and in case Englishmen are not to be pi waded their, yt the Comp*. would please to invite & encourage artificers & handicraftsmen of all other nations to settle there with their familys, provided they be of the reformed religion. The handicraftsmen w<^ are cheifly wanting are Husbandmen & Gardners, who understand plant- ing and improving of grounds, the ground of Bombay being apt to receive and bring forth any seed or plant whatsoever when the times & seasons of planting are sufficiently understood ; weavers both of silke & Cotton &,% who in a short time may procure to themselves a very comforta- ble livelyhood, Carpenters for building of houses as well as ships who are much wanted & much esteemed, Smiths, who also are much wanted, Gun Smiths & Locksmiths, Armorers, Bakers, Cooks, Shoemakers, Talors, Diers, Barbors, Button makers, Ribbond weavers, Butchers, Haberdashers of small ware &°a.

7. That there be encouragem*- for the building of ships and vessails, that is, a particular priviledge in the Customes or otherwise for so many years, provided that after being built they be not suffered to be sold to other place, but to be employed in voyages for ten years or more, & yt when any such vessails are sold to other parts double Custome be paid for them according to the vallue of the ship.

8. That no Engl freemen be suffered to leave the Island but with the licence & consent of the Govr. & Councell, & that if he designe to make voyages abroad, he give in security to returne at such a time to the Island after expiration of the voyages, otherwise a fine to be forfeited to yl Company.

9. That for the encouraging good husbandry, by preventing the vaine and imoderate excess of apparrell, as also for y!L greater consumption of our owne Native manufactures, a standing law be estabbshed by y* Hon^ Compi that no apparell, or outward garments, to witt, Tunicks, Vest, Doublet, Breeches, be used or worne by any Christian inhabitants on y?L said Island, those of ye- Easterne Church excepted, of what quallity, nation & condition soever, but such as are made of English manufactures or brought out of England in our owne shipping whether of silke, wooll or cotton.

The grounds & reasons for establishing this so necessary an order, & the good conse- quences & advantages we^ will accrew therefrom are so obvious as well to y« Comp*.. as to yt inhabitants, that they need not be enlarged on. And for the better supply of the Island w*t Eng3. manufactures that the Honn^e Comp?: would please to send out yearly such quantitys of serges, perpetuanoes, shaloons & other light and cheape stuffs, such as are usually worne in England in ye summer times, as also all sorts of fashionable silks, according to the mode of England wcJ? may be sold at reasonable prises for yl greater encourageml of the inhabitants to weare them ; & for the better confirmation & continuance of this law, that certaine fines and penaltys be inflicted on any whomsoever, whether English or other, that shaU. attempt to make breach thereof.

10. That for the greater decency of the millitary order all the soldiers as well officers as others, be required to weare red serges or perpetuanoes only in the summer time, or red cloth in the winter, w^ shall be afforded them at reasonable and cheap rates from ye_ Comp*. weare-

b 1255—14

54. SURAT LETTERS.

house, to wH*1 end that the Govi: , Deputy Gov1; & the rest of y%_ Councell be advised to give the soldiery encourageml by their owne example.

11. That in regai'd the seas adjacent & belonging to y?_ Island doe afford great quantitys of ffish not only for the supply of the Island but for trade into the neighbouring ports, whereof neither ye_ Govermli nor the inhabitants in generall receive litle or no benefit by reason of the evill management thereof, at present being committed wholy to the Coolys, that y*_ Hon'ble Comp!, would please to enorder some ordinance to be established for the encouragem^ of ship- ping, either by free customs for a certaine time or some other priviledges, and also would please to send out some Ffishmongers with their ffamilys with rules for erecting a company of Ffishmon- gers that better order may be observed therein.

12. In order to preserve the Goverm*. in a constant regular method free from that con- fusion wE'.1 a body composed of so many nations will be subject to, it were requisite y*_ ye severall nations at presL. inhabiting or hereafter to inhabitt on the Island Bombay be reduced or modelled into so many orders or tribes, & that each nation may have a Cheif or Consull of the same nation appointed over them by the Gfov^_ and Councell whose duty & office must be to represent ye greivances w^j1 Moors of any of the sL nation shall receive from y£ Christians or any other, as also to answere for what faults any of said nation shall committ, y*_ the offenders be brought to punishm!_ & that what dutys or fines are due to the Compi may be timely satisfied ; his office may be also to arbitrate and determine all controversys w£^ may arise between said nation, in case the partys are so agreed, otherwise they are to be brought before the Judge of the Courts of Judicature. Ffurther, the duty of said Consull must be to make an exact toll book or register of the said nation, 1 pi_, y* number of Sinay® p.sons inhabiting & settled with their increase as also the voyages coming in & going out ; together with what arms or amunition they bring in or carry out w?!1 toll book or register must be yearly be sent into the GovL or his D. Govern1! & Councell as well for security as for an orderly exact knowledge how the Island increaseth or diminisheth in trade & inhabitants. Now as to the choice of these Consulls, it seems necessary that they bee chosen yearly or at most every third year; that at their Election they take an oath of fidellity, in such tearms as the Honn1^ Com pi. shall please to impose on them, that such who meritt well from the Hoim1^ Comp'L by good service, advancing of trade, inhabitants or shipping, or bring any considerable proffitts, & emoluments toye. Island, be rewarded by some pticular Honours & specimen ts of the HonnbJ_e Comp*_. favour towards y™, that others also may be invited to deserve in the same nature.

13. Ffor the more constant & secure supply of the Island with corne, graine and provi- tions of all sorts, that a stock be employed yearly, either of y» Comp'L or of y* Islands, for the supplying yl Island with wheat, rice, butter, oyle, wood, &c* provitions, w^ being bought at the best hand & in yl cheapest times, may be, as occasion serves, be disturbeted & sold to a reasonable proffitt, reserving always such a store as shall be judged necessary to supply the o-arrison in case of danger for 3 years at least ; to w* end sufficient & secure granarys must be built in sevll places to reserve s^. store from loss, embezlem*-, putrefaction, and therefore ought to be entrusted to able & conscientious men who may be obliged to render a strict acco^ thereof to the Govr_ & Councell every month or at most every 3 months on severe penalty to be inflicted in case of default.

14. That p.sons of honest report be appointed to visit the shops of the moodys or victualls w^ sell all sorts of provitions by retaile to oversee & examine the quallity of s"? provitions of what sort soever it be, y* it be good & wholesome in its kind, & if on examination it proveth not good to take it away & burne it ; & also lay some severe fine on the offender,

80 RAT LETTERS. 55

and further y* set prises be appointed on all provitions regulated in weight & measure according to justice & ye_ publick good and encouragem' of yer inhabitant*.

15. That English weights & measures be appointed by publick authority to be only used on y%. Island, & all others prohibited, to w£{? end that standing weights & measures be sent on purpose out of England by y°_ next ships.

16. Whereas hitherto for want of sufficient number of Englishmen able quallified there- unto, we have been forced to serve ourselves of the native Portugese for Justices, Constables and other publick offices, especially in the lower Courts of Judicature, who not understanding English language, the proceedings of ye_ said Courts, as also of upper Courts, have been hitherto on necessity don in the Portugese language, w«* is not only diahonl* in its selfe but also exposes the Goverm'. & proceedings of sdr Courts to many inconveniencys, wherefore for y« preventing thereof it is indispensible necessary that all proceedings in si Courts of Judicature be don altogether in y% Engl language, for yl. better managem'L whereof, y* the Comp* would please to send out yearly a convenient number of p.sons well quallified for said offices whose charges & sallarys must be paid out of the ffees, fines & amerciaments w^ shall arise from' the said Courts, w^ will be a good lively hood for y™, so that they not be any charge to Compi, having freedome to trade to improve their Stockesto ye_ most advantage This will be a means to strengthen the Engl interest on the Island, w^ at pres*. is low & weake & conse, quently not so much esteemed by the natives as it ought to be.

17. Whereas, for want of Eng8. women, many of the English & others protestant soldiers sent out, doe marry with Portugese mestise women, natives of yer Island who are Roman Catholieks, by w"* means the children of the sd protestants are through their fathers neglect brought up in the Roman Catholick principles to the great dishonour & weaking the protestant religion & interest, wherefore for the preventing the evill conse- quences w^1 may in time accrew therefrom, that the Compl would please not only to encou- rage the sending out of English women, but also to establish a standing order yt the children of all protestant fathers be brought up carefully in the protestant religion, though the mothers thereof be Roman Catholieks, & that severe penaltys be infflicted on all offenders, especially on the Padrees who shall endeavour to Baptise the sd children or any way attempt to Inveigle or intice them away from the protestant faith.

18. That the CompiL would send out some men who understand the making of red lead \voh_ being of great expence in these parts would turne well to accol, not only in consump- tion of great quantitys of lead, but reducing the manufacture thereof only to the Island Bombay, where it might be sold much cheaper & employ Englishmen thereon ; the Gov- ernment of vSurat is so jealous hereof that, notwithstanding all our endeavours for these three years we cannot procure any person that understands the making red lead to goe to Bombay nor can wee gett any from other places, & therefore it were necessary they were sent from England.

19. That for the greater encouragem* of manufactures either of silke or cotton on the Island, publick liberty be granted to all persons to bring in cotton weavers & silke weavers on their acco*8, for the employing their owne private stocks, & that what goods they shall make propper for Europe markets, the Comp!L may buy y?l at certaine reasonable rates to be agreed on whereby they may have a competent livelyhood, & that in case the providers of sd goods shall desire rather to dispose of s'l, goods abroad, & can have a better price from others then from the Compa , that they be left at liberty to dispose of them to their most advantage.

56 SURAT LETTERS.

20. That all Englishmen whatsoever, whether in the CompiL service, freemen, as also al others of the reformed religion, marrying on the Island Bombay, doe bind themselves on their marriage to live on Bombay ten or seven years at least, during wch time they must not be suffered to transport themselves for England on any pretence whatsoever, unless immediate orders shall come from the Honny? Comp^ in England to licence their departure, & this on the forfeiture of a considerable penalty on all who shall offend herein.

21. For yl more strict observation of all laws & ordinances already made, or hereafter to be made by the Honn'y? Comp* for the Island Bombay, & for the more regular & exact payml, keeping an acco!. of all fines, forfeitures & amerciaments due to the Honn!^? Comp'L on any accoL whatsoever, that a certaine person be appointed of honest reputation having the power & office of a Recorder, whose duty must be to take care that all penall laws are put in execution & all forfeitures, fines & amerciaments reel from all without respect of p.sons, & to keep an exact register thereof to be sent y£ Comp'L every yeare, the si Recorder also may have the office of an Escheater to Escheat, condemne & seize to the Comply use all lands, houses & tenem^ , wc?> in time either by the failing of ye_ lives of the present incumbents or possessors or otherwise, shall accrew by right in law to the Honn^? Company.

Worshipfull S*. &£? Respected Freinds,

The President intended to take his passage on this ship " Advance" for Bombay, but by a sudden allarum of Sevagys army, is againe prevented, the towne being much affrighted & wee forced to stand upon our defence ; & in regard the Comp*. hath a great estate here, the Pres. cannot thinke of leaving it in danger ; wherefore though at first we had thoughts of detaining the " Advance" a few days here for the Presidents accommodation, we doe now dispeed her as fast as we can to you, the disturbance of the towne by reason of this news having hindred us in our business neer a weeks time. Here enclosed goeth abstract of ship " Phoenix" Cargo with Invoice of the few goods sent yo1! on this ship ; also a letter for our HonnM? Master w"lh we send open for your p.usall ; desiring yo1? to enclose it in your pacquet by the first ship you dispeed from yo^. Port for London.

Your affectionate freinds,

Surat, 5«* February 1671, GERALD AUNGIER.

MATTW GRAY. CHARLES JAMES, ALEX* GRIGBIE,

Worshipfull &c_a Respected Freinds,

To Bombay Having this good conveyance p. ship " Advance" whom we have ordered to touch at yoL. port in her way to Bantam, wee shall answer your of the 25th Jan^y, w^1 wee reel last night. We are sorry to hear the loss of the ' Hoigh,' unhappily taken by the Mallabars, being sensible of the dishonL it will reflect upon the Comp^. Port & the damage w5^ hath befallen p.ticuler men. We desire yoE to send us a more large accol how she was taken & what English they were that forsook her, for wee are much dissatisfied therewith. We well approve of your sending downe the two boats with yi Mallabar Coaster in search of her, & hope they will not returne empty, and we desire you also to write effectually to Jfe Petit &c3 Ffactors at Callecut to

SURAT LETTERS. 57

enquire after her, k endeavor her recovery, & give yo!L a speedy accoi. where she is, that care may be taken for her. Wee congratulate your success against the two Mallabars that were at Tull. Let Ensigne Adderton know from us that wee esteeme of his good service well, & shall encourage him accordingly. Wee confirme your promise made to those that went out against the Mallabars of allowing them halfe, although yi. Custome is but \ p!?, & for that wee know not what to determine concerning the slaves ; only would have them vallued & remaine on the Compl acco*v, & let the moyety of their vallue be p^. to yl. adventurers, & let the slaves be made to worke at the Sort care being taken that they doe not runn away. And for encou- rageml of the soldiers hereafter, we have made it a standing order, that whatever one-third part thereof shall be allowed y2 ; & this is to continue till further order from the Compl unto whome we have writt effectually concerning this matter, & hope in very few months to send you downe a fine Fffriggatt for the greater security and creditt of the Port ; & if you can build a ffriggatt or 2 at Basseene at any reasonable rates we would have yo5 procure y5?, concerning w$ pray advise us with all speed possible. The Pi. having understood of Capl Shaxtons un- willingnes to meddle with yl. acco!?, being sensible of the great prejudice yl yl Compl may sustaine if no better care be taken then hitherto hath bin, we require that the books be offered to M^.. Henry Chowne, the keeping thereof committed to his charge, provided he declare himselfe able to undertake it, and promises to goe through with their ballancing in due time : but if he doe not declare himselfe thoroughly suffitient he should not undertake them, & in such case wee desire they may be committed to Ml Ja^8 Addames of whose abillity therein we have had some experience, but whether yl. one or yl other undertake y™, wee desire yol to advise with all speed, yl we may determine accordingly. Touching the Jesuits demands of the warehouse by the Customhouse, we desire you give yEL notice yl we cannot surrender up any ground or house to yJS untill further order from the Compl.; wee are sensible of wl. streights yi Compl. servl* are putt to for want of roome, & therefore we would have yo!l build a convenient house or two between the Customhouse & ye__ ffort equall with ye_ Customhouse, to w!* end yo° may draw of workmen from y<L ffort untill the s<L houses are finished. We would have y™ built con- veniently fair and large, & we pray take care yl they stand yt Comp* in as little as may be. As to yl widdow Coats., concerning whome y%_ Dy GovL desires, advice we consent y*. she con- tinue in yl Compl. ffort untill she can be better provided for, having respect to her quallity and comfortless condition. We would have the accomptant, whoever he be, live in the house where Ml Addames formerly kept the acco^ & that small rooms be built neer thereunto for accomoda- tion of Ffactors & under-writers belonging unto yi. acco*?.

By ship " Advance" we send you the powder we have in readines, wSl? is the needfull at presl from

Your very Loving Freinds,

Surratt, Ffel. 1671. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATTHEW GRAY.

CHARLES JAMES.

Worshipfull &51

Yours of the 16*^ instant we reel yesterday and take due notice of what yol. advise us therein, & shall according to your promise expect a speedy relation of Ensigne Addertons &c± success against y * Mallabars, w^ we pray God may be such as may deterr those pirats hereafter from attempting anything to our prejudice. Your delivery of the acco J± to M 1 Chowne upon his declaring himselfe capable to keep y* we approve of, as likewise of Ml Addams b 1255—15

58 SUEAT LETTERS.

settlem.* at Mahim. What we wrott concerning the Jesuits pretences we still confirme, & can- not allow of the delivering them up their houses untill further order from England. What was surrendred up to other people was on examination & due probation of their titles by the ComissI* authorised to y± purpose, but they refusing to appear before them protesting & appealing home to the Honn^L® CompA for justice, we cannot determine or make any end wl*1 y™ until wee hear further from our Masters having sent home all papers relating to that busines. Seeing the first Comission is fallen by reason of the death & departure of the Comml? nominated, wee shall not trouble ourselves to erect any other Commission to humour the Padrees unreasonable & subtle designes. Wee doe not meane that yaB should take all the workmen off the Fort but some few ; & if you want more, that you would entertaine them being wee suppose procurable ; it being highly necessary yJ. some houses be built for accomodation of V* Compi*- servi? & such strangers as shall come.

Wee doe not understand yl wee are any ways obliged to furnish Capi Surges w^ a house, & therefore wonder he should expect it ; the accomptants house was spared him for his presi accomodation untill he could provide himselfe w'Jl another, is his owne fault wA wee cannot remedy, in fine the Compl occasions must be served, so therefore let MJL Addams as formerly have Y* house, & Capi Burges have a convenient place allotted him to build on.

You may entertaine Doctor Bird in the quallity the Comp;^ sent him out, allowing him the same wages the Comp.5 allotted him, wA, if he is unwilling to accept of, let him officiate untill the Pi coming downe, and then he shall be considered of.

Wee wish LI Ustick good success in his journey to & treaty w!t Sevagy, & would his going kept as private as possible, & give it out that he is to treat about nothing but the re- covery of our losses received at Rajapore and j% redemption of y.er Hoigh, that no jealousy may possess this Kings ministers to our prejudice. Wee add not more at presi, but remaine

Your very Loving Friends,

Surat .yml March 1671. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATHEW GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. ALEXA GRIGBIE.

To Bomba Yours of the 7^ we reci. yesterday, w£^ gives us an accoi of Ensigne Addertons success

agi! the Mallabars as likewise his taking a vessell off of Rajapore, w°A hee himselfe wrott us of, hinting as if she belonged to Mangalore, wi* on their arrivall enquire strictly into, & if you find she really belongeth unto s^ Port, take great care that nothing in her be imbezled or made away with but kept intire for the proprietors, for although we will encourage ol soldiery in the pur- suit of Mallabars & others pirates, yet we must not make ourselves odious to our neighbours with whome we hold a faire correspondence, & in whose ports we trade with Honn * & respect, & faile not on the Ensignes arrivall to give us a p.ticular accol of this busines together with a list of the vessells lading & what she is. You complaine of the coursenes & shortness of the Tanna sent yoi downe, it is made so course on purpose y_L y± cloth might not be too fine for the CompiL use yi_ being a fault in it formerly, but we have given strict order to Sungasa, who buys it, yJL what he sends downe be of due lengths, w£L you may in y± future expect, & this being w_L needf ull at pres_L; we rem f?

Surratt, 18* March 1671.

SUB AT LETTERS. A

Worshipfull &SL

Yours of yA 13^h _ and 26th March came to o » hands, y " former y± 3M5 passed month To Bombay. &yA lattA yA 2nd Ins> , to both wch wee shall answere in their due place. As wee did formerly soe wee likewise now againe approve of yoJL. delivery up of those lands to y* procurator for Japan ; & for yiL thorough ending of y A Jesuits & other pretenders atYaires wee have drawne up another Commission & appointed new Comissioll (some whereof are in Surat & suddainly shall be dispeeded towards you) in ordA to yA due administration of Impartial justice between yA Hony? CompA and yA sev". pretendlLto yA seized lands.

We were at first dissatisfied in yo J. beginning to build y f . trench about yl. ffort in regard of yA great charge it will put yj^. CompA. unto, & y f . hindrance it will put yA Compi, to other necessary works, & therefore would have you desist from goeing on wLh it, untill y • Pi comeing downe, & imediately goe in hand w*)i yA houses for accomodation of y.« CompA. servii w^L wee enordered to be built & to yA effect sent you downe yiL Bricklayers. The ffront curtaine wee judged by wA you writt to have bin defensible enough against yJL Enemy ; & for yA wee are at peace w*!i all & have noe reason to feare Savajee, wee would have you desist from raising it at present till yA worke more necessary are finished. Wee would have you be very circumspect in yoA buying yA Ffrigotts of yiL Portugalls least they deceive you wi^ old decayed ones ; if you cannot gett good, strong & well built ones buy none. The PresidA will bring downe with him 5000 R8 you desire, as likewise a recruite of limewater & liquor for yA Fforts use. Wee observe yA Estanque of Tobacco is fallen this yeare 1000 XA & are unsatisfied there w^. Y^. reasons w2^ you alledge for it seeme to carry little force w'h y™, & therefore wee are apt to conjecture some designe hath bin lavd by yA farm!?, to y4_ hon!^ CompA prejudice, wch. pray enquire into and let us know those yJL bought y£ mono- poly thereof.

Wee are glad at Serji. Addertons safe arrivall and his good success against y • Mallabarrs, lett yiL vessell w^ he hath taken be secured, & yA goods taken out of her and kept under lock & key in some warehouses, & y • prison!? kept in durance untill yA PA. comeing downe, when they shall be tryed ; in yA Interim endeavour by as many circumstances as you can finde out to prove her a Mallabarr, as also to know who sett her out.

You have write Ml. Hill hath this yeare monopolised yA Taverne rents of yA Island, advancing 300 Xa more then formerly paid, but yA yA Bandarines were dissatisfied w^ proceedings, in making yA. pay an exaction more then they ever yet did. As wee are glad to here yA rent is raised so considerably, so on yA other side wee would by noe meanes have him abuse yA Bandarines in exacting an extraordinary duty from yi?, w^ if he continue to doe, lett him know y * on yA first complaint he shall be dispossest thereof.

Wee are sorry to read both in yo JL. & y_i Billiapatan lettJ?. y_? Irregularitys y ' soldiers committed there, wf !? being returned you on y e. Mallabarr Coast, lett y^ be kept close prisoners in y.er hole untill further order, yA PresidA intending on his arrivall to afflict exemplar punishm * on them such as shall deterr others from such mutinous practices in y A future ■ and soe wee recommend you to yA Almightys protection, & rest

YoA very Loving Freinds, Suratt, 0'K Aprill 1672. GERA AUNGIER,

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES.

60

SURAT LETTERS.

Worshipfull &??.

To Bombay. These goe pJL y± " Phenix " Ketch & new Ffriggott, on whom wee have sent downe yl

file of soldiers yJt were remaining here, as alsoe laden on them w_L Tannah cotton yarne & other provitions you wrot for, an Invoyce whereof goeth enclosed. On yJ? takes passage alsoe Mi Sarnie Walker & Ml. Ffran-I. Day, two of yl Commission yl are to examine y_? Jesuits & other pretenders titles ; y • Commission is drawne out & their instructions w!h yj> Presid L intends to bring downe along wl.h him hoping to Enbarque on yl " George " wl^in those 4 or 5 dayes at furthest. On yl " Hunt! " Ffrigott goes one Jnl. Hallewell formlly mate of ship "George" who is undl. restraint occasioned by an information delivered in unto us by M_F Christl Robson M_£ of s * ship & signed by one Charles Gould who belonged unto her. whereby wee are given to understand yl by accident he was yi£ occasion of drowning of one FfrancJ- Peck in Quedah River. Wee have taken yl depositions of those who were presl when yl accident hapened wit wee send you inclosed. Yj: Deponents likewise goe downe on yl Ffriggott whose depositions on oath you must retake & proceed in y_? case according to forme & y * Hon^!? Compl orders, calling a Court & trying si. Jn° Hallewell by a Jury of 12 men, who if found not guilty you may dy charge ; if otherwise keep him in durance untill y_5 Pi coming downe. Lett him be tryed wtXl all convenient speed in regard he is intended to voyage to Siam this yeare, and wee would by noe meanes be his hindrance in case he shall be found by y% Court to be guiltless of wilfull murther. Since writeing yl. above wee have thought good to send you enclosed y_^ Commision for y4 Commission!! and their instructions. The Commission you must seale wJ* y*. seale of Bombay, & deliver yj» yl. they may gett things in a readiness to sett against yl VJL come downe, & send for Leiu* Ustick w* all speed yl yl. business may goe on, and so recomend you to yl. Almighty, wee remaine

Surat, 16% Aprill 1762,

Your very Loving Freinds, G. A. M. G.

a J.

May it please your Honours,

To Company. Our last unto you was of yJL 6i£ Cur t, when wee advised y± PJL. intentions to goe to

Bombay & yi_ jealously wee had of some hott service from this young & furious GovJL., wit hath succeeded according to ol_ expectation, for y!_ P_I_ by six and severall messages sent in most civill mann_l by yl_ Vockanavise ShawbundJL Cheife Custom!. & other p. sons of quality represented to him yl_ effects of yor_ordJL, yJL unreasonableness of his pretended jealousy, yJL. just grounds of y L Presidls desire, wl1 all declaring yi he would returne in 7'ilr, & no arguml,i'eason, or intercession prevail w!t him ; & haveing understood by yl. Broker yl he demanded a round sume of mony for his Licence to yJL Pi. departure, where upon takeing into consideration y_! injustice of his demand & yl. evill consequence would accrew to your affaires should wee consent there unto, wee resolved only not to give him any money ; but also yl. P_L should write him a lettJL (for he will not be visited by any of yJL Christians) & in yJL. si. lett_!_ give him leave to understand yl. in regard he was a servJL & under obedience to ord-L. he must obey, yl he is a free Merch± & no slave or prison.! , & y_* he discharged yJL part of a freind in giveing him so often freindly advise & desireing his consent, wit seeing he would not grant he was determined to goe w% out it. To this effect y£ Vl wrott him a lett! but couched in civill tearmes of w!v

SURAT LETTERS. 61

I

yo r Hon I!. will judge, when you see y e copy w * is entred in yl. consultation booke. In answer to this lett.r. he sends about 2000 souldiers horse & foot about 3 of the clock yl same day, being yJL 19ih curri_ whereof pte. entred & possessed y "selves of yJL house, yl rest guarded all yi_ streets & lanes about it, forbidding wood, wat » & all mannJU of Provisions from comeing in ; abusing & beating oi_ ministi. who accidently being abroad was comeing in, after- wards he sent for all ol. small amies & o L trumpett we!1 were sent him, & to all this force wee shewed not y_e least returne of violence, but suffered all patiently treating y_e. Command » of yl soldery wth much civillity. About 6 at night hee sends y • broker Bimgee Parrack to demand money from us to compound yi business. Wee sent him answer yJi. wee had given him at present already more then wee had given to any Govern I., yi wee were not in any fault & would pay him none, whereupon he forces from yi broker Bimjee Parrack 500 Rupi threatning to seise his house, estate, wife & children, if he did not pay it ; yl_ broker being affrighted pays him y_!L money declaring w^L all it was his owne not y±_ Compi , at length it seems y± Gov I being ashamed of w L he had done, betwixt 8 & 9 at night recalls all his souldiers returne all y_L armes & yJL trumpet, & leaves yJL house free. Yl next morning yf Pr sent M.E Gray w^ yl. rest of yiL. Councell to y_? ShabundJl & yJL eminent merchJL of y • towne to declare to them y± force wcll was put upon us ; shewing yl lettJL. w-5!? yi PJT writt y •, Gov J & w *^all gave yP to understand yi as wee were in noe fault so if any evill did ensue thereupon they must not blame us. The Merchi5 did all beare wittness of oJ innocence & cryed shame of yl Gov.™ injustice; since w«J* yl Gov.r. seemes sorry for wi is past ; though he is outwardly civill, yet he will not here of yl Pi£ goeing downe. Yl Ffrench & Dutch are in yl same case wllL us, to whom he hath not shewed so much open violence but forces money from y?, a few days since haveing taken 40 mdi copper from yl Dutch besides their great present, before he would suffer their Commander to goe downe to Swally ; to all yl. nierchi* in Gen^ in yi Towne he useth also much tyranny, insomuch yi they are much dis- contented y i. 'tis beleived upon so gen II a discontent he will not long stay. We know not yet wi yJL issue of this business will be, but we trust in God no evill but much good will accrue to yol settleml. both here & at Bombay, in yl- conclusion ; but it will be effect of time, patience, resolution, & a provident care to provide for unexpected accidents, in all wc^ wee begg Gods gratious assistance to direct & prosper us in all y 1 difficultys wi* wee shall encountl in your affaires, & remaine

Yo-E very humble Servants, Suratt, 23$ Aprill 1612. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATTHEW GRAY. CHARLES JAMES.

Worshipfull &°a

Yours of y-t 9* & 14 ^ CurrJL came to o J, hands yl_ 16"! & 218t^ ditto, to yl materiall To Bombay. p^L whereof wee answer in yi. following lines. Wee take due notice of wi. you write concerning yi. building y_l houses of accomodation wee enordered & to yi. purpose sent you downe bricklayers, & in regard you make soe great difficultys in yJL matt.1 , and yi. there is present accomodotion in yl Hospitall for Ff actors and also warehouse roome, you may deferr y._? building of si. houses untill y% Pi. comeing downe, wi he doubts not but to contrive their ffronting to yi. sea without any irregularity or impedimJL to other buildings so yi. yl N. El Bastian shall command some streets & likewise yi wati. side ; wee shall take care to supply you wli yo-L desired recruite of moneys.

b 1255—16

62 SURAT LETTERS.

Wee likewise observew Jl you write concerning yJL prize taken by Ensigne Adderton. Wee would have y ± Councill sitt on her, & if on due examination & debate they finde her to be a pirate (whether she be a Mallabi_ or belonging to y e_ Rajah of Canary ports) wee would have her according to Custome condemned & then lett yJL coconutt be sold & yJL other goods kept by untill further ordlL, then likewise lett a deck be built on her, & she fitted wi^ all things necessary for to goe out y±. next monsoone against yJL Mallabarrs. You write you cannot buy a Ffriggott at Basseen nor build one at Cullean & therefore desire ord L_ to build a shibar w^ a Deck. Wee had rather, if possible you c(,uld procure timber, you built a small Ffriggott wJ£ an Eng!_ head though less then y.f_" Hunt.L," for y± bett-T effecting whereof wee have sent you downe an Eng-L. Carpenter by yfL" Hunt jL," but if yl cannot bee, then wee give leave y 1 you build a substantiall large shibar who may be capable of doeing yJL Comp JL good service both against Mallabars, as also in y_l_ lading & unlading of ships & vessells. Wee according to yoJl promise expect an accoj. of Ensigne Addertons expence in his voyage out against y4 Mallabarrs.

What you advise concerning J*, trench gives us satisfaction at pres 1, & hope wl? you y_£_ PJL at his arrivall will approve of w_L you have done therein. Wee are glad to here yl the ffront Curtaine & N.2. El Bastianis in such a forwardness, & hope y_!_next monsoone will goe very nere to compleat yJL Ffort.

The PJL aftJL. many civill applications made to y 1 Gov_L for his consent to his goeing to Bombay on yJL" George," w^L proved fruitless, he declaring y±_ w'ilout a round sume of money he would not suffer his departure, sent y«L Gov£- word yl he would goe w^iout his leave, see- ing he could not obteine it, w0.^ so nettled him, yl. in a passion he sent a guard of 1000 men to watch about yi, Compi. house, who remained from 4 o clock in y± afternoone untill 8 at night, when he repenting him of his rashness w^Ldrew them, nevertheless he will not as yett here of y.5. P£- going to Bombay, so y± wee cannot judge how affaires will goe, but are in hopes stil to obteine his consent ; nevertheless it being late in y *__ yeare have dispeeded yfL " George " & " Recovery " on their voyages to Acheen & Quedah, wee have thought good to advise yon thereof, yl. you may not be disturbed at any uncertaine news you here, but still expecting yl. PL arrivall you keep all things in their due ordiL , for wee are resolved not to lett y_!L prose- cution of oiL intentions rest go w*lout any effect. There is a report here yl Sevajee intends to build a Castle on Henry Kenry w^L the Govi. makes one of his argum^?. for his not letting y <L TJL goe (pretending he will helpe Sevajee), w?l if true it concernesus more then y.L Port of Suratt to hindil it, & therefore advise us if you here of any such thing, & this being at present yA- needfull, wee rest

Yo .r_ very Loving Ffreinds,

Suratt, 23 ± Aprill 1672. G. A.

M. G. C. J.

Worshipfull &« Our Respected Freinds,

Whereas wee given .to understand yl Cap_l JniL Burgees hath of late behaved himselfe w^l much rudeness & disrespect to yJL Deputy Gov y_, & hath uttered sevJL descourses tend- ing to yJL great dishonil. & contempt of yL. Hony? Comp^. authority & Goverml as ap- peares by yl attestations of sevll credible persons sent unto us. Upon due consideration of y4_ evill consequence w^ may accrew from such disordli, wee doe hereby for y_L. present desanull & make void the Commission w£?L wee have given y4r S4-Capi Burgees as Capl of one of yJL foot Compi , & doe suspend him from all command over y SL soldiery & from his office & place in Councell, & doe further require you y± D. Gov£» & y-5 rest of y±- Councell y!_you

8URAT LETTERS. 63

cause yi. sA Cap! Burgees to be committed a prison Jl to yfL Marshall, & thereto be kept till y^ Govf, shall arrive, or till orcLr shall come for his tryall, & for yS bettfL preventing any disord-l w?JL may happen among y* soldiery wee require you to keep it very private & to take a convenient time to put it in execution ; to witt when Cap JL Shaxtons Compi^ hath yjl Command of y e,_ watch ; when summoning yfL sf*. Cap* Burgees to Councell, you may then publish and put in execution this ordJL, causeing yfL guards to be ready to prevent any mutiny y* may arise, & aft J. wards you are to publish this ol proclamation wch wee here send you, for y • bettil reduceing yJL soldiery in good ordl & govermJL . Dureing yi. suspen- tion of CapiL Burgees his Commission wee ordl. yJL Lieu! Langford doe command yfL said CompfL, requiring him wj^ Ensigne Adderton & y_fL rest of yfL officers yi. they keepe y± soldiers undJL their command in due obedience and respect to yfL Deputy Govern_i. Wee have advised you in a genii ptfL what necessary, & therefore conclude these, remayning

Yo.£ Loving Freinds, Suratt, 88*. Aprill 1672. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES.

Worshipfull &fJ5L

Wee thought som ewl strange yi*. by y_!L arrivall of y£ "Charles" who touched at your Port, in her way from Persia, wee rec^ noe Genii lettl, wf* makes usagaine recomend unto you yi adviseing us wA necessary by all conveyances, from w5^ lett noe pretence divert you, for it is absolutely necessary for y.1 betti. ordering of affaires w%h now seeme to be in a dissettled posture W* you.

The " Little Charles " wee againe returne you, to wintl there, whom when the monsoone is quite spent lett be haled a shore in a convenient place, & a surveigh taken of her deffects by y± Mast r Carpenter & others, wf^L send up to us, y*_ wee may resolve wi; to doe wfi! her. She hath proved so leaky in her voyage to Persia, yi. she hath damaged much goods of yi merchif, who are resolved to lade no more on her, & therefore we thinke wholly to consigne her to y • use of your Island ; from Persia she brought us a recruit of provisions, p*f? whereof wee offerr to yo£ par- ticipation, they are reladen on yj£ " Charles " & yfL enclosed invoyce will give you yfL particulers thereof ; there is likewise a p.cell of Redd yearth on board her, w£f» by reason of y % lateness of yl yeare wee could not unlade here, it is continued on board her wf* you may take on shore & pack up in chests, if procurable, if not in Guney, & keep it in readiness to be put on board such ship as we shall hereaftJL enordL. The Govl of Suratt haveing positively manifested & de- clared his resolutions of not suffering yfL P-L to embarque for Bombay untill he hath recfLordj; from Court, w?^ cannot arrive time enough for him to goe downe before yJL raines wst are at hand, wee thinke good to enordil y*. you give us a large accofi of y_£ posture of affaires wth you, y} wee may give such necessary instructions as may tend to yl well governing of y*. Island untill it shall please God y 5 Pi. can w'J) safety to yj? CompJL affaires leave Suratt ; for yj? effecting whereof no oppertunity shall be omitted, for we are very sensible his presence is very requisitely necessary for yfL promoting yl Compi. interest on yfL Island, wee have wrott you sev1! by y_e; " Ketch " and by an " Express" of yt 23 3 Aprill an answer unto what wee are in expectation of when wee shall write you againe, in yfL Intrim wee remaine

Yol very Loving Freinds, Suratt, y* 9th May 1672. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES.

64 SURAT LETTERS.

To Bombay Worshipfull &11

YoILof f*. pr. mo. May came to o£. hands y • 10^L by yl_ arrivall of y *. " Phenix" Ketch who had a tedious passage to us, makeing it 11 daies ere she anchored in Suratt River. In yo2L si- advises wee are to oI_ trouble given to understand y£ unparrelled affront used to yl Hon^f Compi. authority & likewise y_£ seditious practice committed by these irregular speritts, y4 like flyes will never leave fluttering about y± candle till they have burnt their wings, and leave a noisome stinck behinde y5, to redress w2^ and many other exorbitancys yl Preside was so desireous to pass some time w*2? you, but it pleasing God to divert his well grounded resolutions by the untimely arrivall of this avaritious Govern!., who by noe meanes will here of his goeing to Bombay untill he heres from Court. Wee have thought good to give you wJ instructions wee have concluded at present necessary for yo£ Govermi expecting an answer to o™ of yl 9!jL ins* , a large accl of affaires w^ you y *. wee may further debate thereon. And in yl. first place, in respect wee find yol. Councell is not compleat according to y_l Compl; ordL wee have thought good to enord.1 y± there be of Councell y* ff olio wing p.sons vizi.

The worsp", Phillip Gyffard D. Gov*.

CapJ: Jn° Shaxton.

Henry Chowne.

James Addames.

Stephen Ustick.

George Wilcox, who being at

presl heer wee have thought necessary to appoint to his assistance Ml. SamlL Walker intend- ing he shall succeed him in a short time, have designed s£ Ml Wilcox for anothJ[ employ m J, & y£ Councell being thus settled wee doubt not but by Gods blessing & yol. prudl managemi of affaires things will be kept in due ordE. in yl. future. Wee observe wi. you write concerning Capl Burgees, whose charge wee would have drawne up & deliver him, requireing his answer in writing thereunto, w^1 if he deliver in lett be sent up to us ; togeather w*^ yol opinions in y* case, yl wee may pass a definitive sentence therein, and as to y_? Marshll Pett L. resume his case & lett him rec %. such punishmji as you shall thinke fitting to inflict on him.

For the tryall of those notorious mutiners yl tore j% Proclamation & opposed y« execu- tion of Justice on yl. wench you caused to be shaved and sett on an ass, lett a Jury be em- pannelled, whom if they finde guilty of mutiny, lett them be sentenced, condemned, & executed according to yl. 3 * article of y.1 Honble Comp*. lawes for yl preservation of yl. peace & suppressing of mutiny, sedition and Rebellion.

Ml Geo Wilcox hath informed yl he hath drawne up a forme of Legall proceedings wlh he intended to present him w^ on his arrival at Bombay, w<* forme wee would have him send up hither yi wee may debate & consider thereof.

In regard you have satisfied us yl for yl_ present there is accomodation enough in y_£ hospitall & other places for yjL Comp.1 serv*!, wee thinke good yi you totally desist from building those houses formerly enordered this yeare, & goe imediately in hand w*i yl build- ing of two large stone warehouses behind yl Customhouse or in some place nere it, such as may be capable of receiveing into y*. 3 to 4 good ships lading of goods. Lett y»L for y 1. present be covered with tiles & if possible finish y™ by 7^1r next, for y 1 effecting whereof let yol. utmost industry be employed & no pretence hind * it, for there will be great occasion for them, & this doe w*A as little noise as possible.

Calll- Herman Baxe is at present w* us w* whom wee are advising concerning y« living out of a towne & other affaires who shall be dispeeded back to you in a short time.

SURAT LETTERS. 65

The Preside is intended to dispeed yl "Loyall Oxinden " in few days downe to you to winti there, for yi greatJl creditt of yi Island, and therefore desire you would take care to pilott her in ; as likewise yi you would take advise together & consider w^ place in yi. bay is yi fittest & most convenient for her to winti. in ; & this being at present yl needfull wee recomend you to yi. Almightys protection & remaine

Yoi very Loving Freinds,

Swat 16 1 May 1672. GER* AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES.

Honourable &ci.

The last night arrived here an " Express " wJ£ many lette.™ directed to you concerning yi. affaires of y • Island ; w5|? wee hope yoJL Honil safe arrivall there will soone give dispatch to supply all their wants & compose all their differences. Wee have little of Genii business to accoi for in this short time of yoL absence from us; only there is about 500 m^?of olibanum bought, som at 2 rupi but yi greatest pi? at 2-,%pJL mA and about 225 mil of alloes at 22| RqpJL p£ mi, which is all their is in Towne. Wee have advised w^ Bimgee about wi yoi HonZ did propose of supplying yl Ffactorys of Nundrabund and those p.*? with money. Rupi not being procurable wee find it will be as advantagious to yi Hon^ Compi to supply with pice & have accepted of yi sheroffs contract to furnish us with 42000 rupi. in pice at 33£ great pice to yi Rupi. Y*. advance upon yl pice in those parts will defray yl charge of ensurance & carriage, wij} now yi. raines are come in must be transported upon oxen ; when yl sheroff desires ol bills for yl money wee shall give it. Bimgee Parrack hath spoke to Sied Mahmud about yl lead money, who promiseth to put yl Gov I. in mind of it, but wee much doubt the sincerity of their promises. Wee add not more, but subscribe

YoJL Hon £! &£1 Affect : Freinds & Servants, Suratt, 2AlJL May 1672. MATTHEW GRAY.

CHARLES JAMES.

To Bombay.

Honourable &™

We wrott you a breife lett.1 yl 24** passed month of w5^ wee now transmitt a copy that wee trust in God found his Hon J &™ freinds safely arrived on yi. Island, wee haveing now another conveiance presenting by a pattamar yi arrived here w* yi D. Govl & Councells letti the 1|* Insi, shall rendr you an acciof ol transactions in y?L HonM! Compi. affaires since our last.

Wee have delivered all yl cloth & rashes yi was remayning on y.5 Marine unto Mirza Mosum, wci he houses at Raneale, being 330 bales besides wi. he hath remayning of this yeares p.cell in Suratt. Wee have prest him very hard for his reception of it ; and are glad it is now in his possession, y* wee make up yl accol and he have no further pretence of damage upon us, then wi allready to yl Honbi? Compi. great loss wee have found reason to allow him yi is in y« whole 2030 Rup» whereof 1500 falls upon yl London Cloth for sea damage, but yi great JL part was damaged in yl Ketch in J* storme & raine she mett wfi between yl ship & b 1255—17

To Bombay

66 SURAT LETTERS.

y£* rivers mouth in 7^- of w^ wee made surweigh in 8^, & found yl damage to have fallen cheifly upon yj; fine cloath. In yl delivering of y • cloth to Mirza Mosum there is found 3 bales of serges, 1 Scarlett, 2 mixt colours wsh is housed w^l his goods at Raneale. If wee can, wee will dispose of y"5 to him. The perpetuanoes in oil house wee could not hitherto prevaile w^ him to receive, but in a day or two hope he will take y? home ; here are remayning in y % house 50 and odd of those Potcas yl were provided at Caranjaw & whited at Mowa, yl in yl looking over were found unmerchantable, being tome & rotten ; besides wee know not how many y *, were sent on board y_? ships before in haste before wee made yl discovery. These goods wee think in reason ought to be turned on yi. brokers hands though he & others will have y • damage be at y • washers, yett wee may think it may be as well before it came to y™, but if wee grant it be done by J* washers yet ought not y* Compl to suffer, but y 1 washers ought to pay for yl damage, w^ was yi brokers concerne to look aft 1 when he recA y * cloth from yE, to this p.ticuler we desire your Hon I. &1L to pass a final sentence.

Wee have sold 80 maund of Tynn at 14£ Rupl.pL maund at 3 p.cl discount for brokeridge & time, & hope by small p.cells to dispose of yl rest at s4 price.

We have also sold 2 chests Correll to those pore men who in y± raines spend their time in makeing beads, viz.*

1 Chest of yl_ lower prized Gresio at 7| Rl y.1 sear 2| p. c_L discount.

1 Chest of Teraglie at 37 Rup 1 per maund, w£t are yl highest prices wee could bring y ™ to, & wee find no hopes to find out other merchi! these raines. According to his Hon.1! direction wee have sent downe to Swally wJL goods were embaled, & are now getting yi Gov™ leave for yl. chopping 51 Ball Ahml Indico & 5 Bal_Tapseile &C_L at Raneale, w* 50 Bal. lately packed up here, w£^ wee hope to doe before yi raines sett in, w5|? wee may expect in a few dayes.

The cowrees & seedlack remaines here because of f± great charge of transport by land, W± cloth was whited at Raneale & Dion wee have embaled & sent downe, & all ol warehouses will be filled w^ cloth embaled before y± Raines end ; the Dyers and washers bringing it in dayly. Wee have furnished Sungasa w!t moneys to imprest y L cotton yearn merchii, it being now time to buy in yjL comodity.

Yo.1 Hon£? &£? presence at Bombay wee conclude hath answered y± DepM? Governll &^? lettE? nowreci , it consisting but of two p.ticulE!, yl one yo.L ord£ for yJL executing of a murtherer convicted thereof by a Jury and sentenced, y % other about p.mitting y± natives to put dry ffish to yl roots of trees, buried underground deep. To yJL form! wee know no reason why yl sen- tence should not be put in execution ; to yJL lattJL Matthew Gray, in yl_ time of his abode on yl Island, remembers not any offence given by yJL stench of dry ffish* buried at yl ffoots off trees, w£^ being benefitiall to yl_ Natives, and offensive to y.1 people as to pi judicing their healths, wee thinke it may continue till his Honl upon bettl information or his owne expe- rience this season find to yl. contrary. And this is wl prest_L to this time. W!^ ol respectfull salutes wee conclude, & remaine

Yoi_ Hon!l &li at Command,

Surat, 4* June 1672. M. G.

C. J.

* " But for all this gallantry, I reckom they walk but in charnel houses, the climate being extremely un- healthy ; at first thought to be caused by Bubsho, rotten fish ; but though that be prohibited, yet it continues as mortal : I rather impute it to the situation, which causes an insecundity in the earth, and a putridness in the air. what being produced seldom coming to maturity, whereby what is eaten is undigested." — Fryer's East India and Persia, p. 68.

SURAT LETTERS. 67

Honourable &il

After many a sad thought wee had for yo r safety heareing no newes of yo .r. arrivall on yi Island in so many daies, & y .*. confirmed by yl. Dep^y Govl to yl 4^ June, w!!l extraordinary stormes on yl Coast, and y e Gen }} Curri newes in towne of the ships loss, yl apprehension of v h danger dayly increaseing as wee recA no advises from y*. Island of yol arrivall, & greater Damp on ol speritts was occasioned by alettiyi Dutch Director reef from Broach y 1 15*^ Currl, whether newes was brought by a small vessell from Diw, in two dayes passage, y^ sevJL men were driven on shore there by yi? sea & a boat built tih* yl English manner & had English Riggen, & this newes was confirmed by our Broach broker. Wee than began to dispaire of yo JL safety ; but it pleased God to comfort us. Yl. next day being Sunday, as wee satt at dinner, wee recil his HonL9lettrr to O-L infinite contentmi_w^.y_l comfortable newes of his safe arrivall on yl Island y± 7th CurrJL. After such eminent & great dangers as he encountred, for w0)1 wee rendl thanks to Almighty God, and as in such cases wee ought to signifie also to yl world oil gladness, the next day the whole family remembered so great a blessing at Mirza Mosums Garden. Wee accounted wth you ol occurrences, hereto yi 4.*Jl of this month ; since w"A wee have sold 4 chests of yl Grezia Correll at 7 5 Rupl, pL seer 3£ p. cl discount for time, & 1 chest of yJL Jeraglia at yl forml. price of 37 Rupl. yJL maund. OnyJL IDA Curr * this Towne was strongly allarmed by yl neare approach of Savagees forces undJL yl_ conduct of Moro Punditt, who hath taken Joar from yl Cooleys w2l is w*h.in 57 Course of this place, but since haveing left a man Garrison there is retired back. In the heat of this newes the GovJl calls all yl eminent, both Moores & Banians, & propounds to yl1 yJL collecting of 45000 Rupl to raise 500 horse & 3000 ffoot to defend y 1 towne for two months ; y_l Moores readily subscribed to it, knowing y.*_ yl burthen of y± Tax would fall upon y_l Banians ; they stood off a little to pause on y 1 business but have also subscribed. Wee here off no soldiers raiseing ; but there are officers employed in takeing an acco^ of every Banians house in Towne, of w2h y e GovJL no doubt will make good employml to his p.ticular benefitt.

Wee have well employed ol time in drawing out a fist of goods yl wee have here & at yl Marine in a readinesse for y • expected shipping being upwards of 700 Tunns (besides yiL red earth carried to Bombay on y «. " Charles" & " Oxinden ") & by yiL nearest calculation amounts to Rupl 450535, also an acco* of wJj goods are remaining here for sale w£l? w'^ yt Govern^ debt for lead amol8 to Rupl 210210, wth an accoi of wl moneys wee are engaged for jl Hon^Lf Compl at interest arao'i to 695777: 36 pice, but if you please to take a view of yl accoi* curr * you will find its creditt in mony, goods remaining, debts & moneys imprested the 31il May in y± sevll Ffactorys (the returnes whereof wee expect to receive) to y4 amol of 1248009 Rup.».

Tlie 25th Currl wee reci advises from Ffort SI George a copie whereof goeth here inclosed, w0^ confirmes y± newes rec.4 from Mjl Mohun of y± Ffrench their settleml on Ceilon w*J?in sight of y 1 Dutch Ffort at Trinconomalla ; there being a Cossett now returning to Golcundah wee have in a few lines owned y e receipt of their lettl, copie whereof goeth herewith.

By y± " Loyall Oxinden" was sent an invoyce but all p.ticulars were not incerted ; wee have now sent one more at large, yet there wants y_i red Earth to be added for want of yl invoyce from Persia w^ is carry ed downe w* you. Wee entreat you to cause yi amol of yl red eartli to be included & to returne us yl invoyce. Cursett yl carpentl hath bin w* us about yf. dimentions of yl Ffriggott building for yl Island ; wee understand her to be built Pinck fashion, like to yl of yl Kings built last yeare & of yl same dimentions wcl is —

Coveds 30 long. 7£ broad by yl Beame 4^ in y* Ffloor 2A Depth in hold.

68 SURAT LETTERS.

The Kings Ffriggott carrys 75 tun in hold. Now if yo L Hon r. & ££ will admitt of halfe a more in breadth & | a Coved in depth she will carry 100 tuns in hold, & so may be the more servisable to yl Hon^l CompA, and this he saith will be no hinderance to her sayling. Hee de- sires also yJL y 1 " Ketch " may have a head made & 3 masts & a falce keele to make her keep a bettl. wind. This charge he computes about 500 Rup_l, but wee consider if she have a head & 3 masts she is no more serviceable to lade and unlade our ships ; and will be useless to us here and her charge of men will be soe great yjL wee cannot thinke any ffreights she can make will defray her charges ; wee approve of a falce keele, though she will draw soe much water yJL she will often ground in yl river & doe thinke yJL her mast cutt short! will keep her from rowling so much ; & she will keep a betti wind. But wee shall forbeare o_L orders untill wee here from his Hon L, & wth tend-L of oJL salutes, remaine

Yo_l Honours &SL faithfull Freinds, Suratt, 81*. June 1672. MATTHEW GRAY,

CHARLES JAMES. ALEXA GRIGBIE.

Honourable &f? To Bombay. The 26th curr_l wee wrott you by Matteus the Cooly, whose transcript is herewith sent. Yf

last night yl Carwar Cossett brought us yo™ of yll9^L w*l yJL Carwar books ; but neither yl Copys nor originall Lett™, whereby wee might have learned y__e state of yl Ffactory, of w?!? wee are wholy ignorant. Wee impute this neglect to him who made up the pacquet, who hath left them out.

When Capl Burges arrives, wee shall put him in command of the Ffriggott ; since you have upon his submission thought him worthy of yl charge ; wee know him able and sufficient for it, & hope bis future comportmJ to his superiours will be such as may meritt their coun- tenance. The Ffrench have certainly taken S.i Thoma from the King of Golcundah: this is w^out question. The story is thus, two ships were sent hither for provitions, they sent about 20 men to yi Citty who were there abused and could procure none ; upon w^ they landed their Guns & a considerable quantity of their men marched against it ; battered downe yl Gate & possest themselves of y± place ; wj is of very ill consequence to ol Hon^S Mastrl, the Citty being in sight of Ffort SJl George, beautifull & very strong & many brass gunns on yjL walls. Wee beleive yl Ffrench Padries in Madrass put yl Ffrench on yl designe by giving yJ? to understand how weak they were wllin, not above 200 men (as wee here) ; if upon this news their Admirall shall come thither w*J? his forces from Ceilon & reinforce it, 'twil be for ever their owne ; otherwise we beleive yl King of Golcundah will regaine it. Our freinds at Madrass are surely amazed at it ; otherwise we could not think they would be so uncivill as not to lett you into months time here aftl yl ships arrivall there y £. least news thereof, & of other affaires in Europe, wS^ seems a wonder to yl nations here, although to us, who have for some years bin accustomed to it, is not strange.

Yol Honl not adviseing how you intend to dispose of yl ships when they arrive, nor give us any ord™. for yl provition of any thing here for yJL supply of yl Mallabar Ffactorys, wee have taken into consideration y 1 loss M L Petit writes they have by yl sale of the Gold sent them downe last year ; & since Checqueens are more Currant & little or no loss by them, wee have ordered Bimgee Parrack, now while they may be had, to buy 50,000 Rupi worth ; and this we thinke wil be sufficient stock in money to send y™ the remaindl to be supplyed in

SUn AT LETTERS. 69

goods especially in Copper W^ will here sell to loss. Vermillion is risen to 60 Rup.K the maund at w''1' prioe to buy it here there will be loss OH it on y% Mallabar Coast.

Wee have concluded to a<lvise, yorv Uon ! in regard to the despicable price J3road Cloth is at

here A v ! dangers wee are in to send up no more then

50 bales Reds & Greens no Perpetuanoei

1 bale Scarlett no Corral!

1 bale fine Greens 500 Plates Copper 10 bales rashes

And yJL. \\ e may be y .«_ bett f_ enabled to discharge o_L great Debt at Interest you Iwil please to send up all the treasure, reserving of y L. Gold so mueh as you shall thinke will be necessary for Carwarr & of the silver for y_I supply of y 5_ Island.

Wee have now consigned to you by yi "Phenix" Ketch in moneys, stores &"^_ for yi use of y • Island to yi amo^ of Rupi 24503 :44 the cost of y • " HuntJL" Ffriggott included ; for all w* be pleased to give ol accoi creditt. Wee should have sent you now yi Cost of the Ketch w h being more serviceable for y« use of y" Island, then for ol occasions here, wee have by yor ordl turned her over to y ° Island acc°. By next conveyance yi. Invoyce shall be sent. M r Child wee hope to dispatch to you this night who hath made yi. great i. hast yi. he may be wil! you before yi. new moone when bad weather may he expected. The Masti of yi. Ketch M_L W2L. Norgrave hath petitioned us for yi. raising his wages ; haveing served long for very mean pay considering yi charge he hath had being mate of yi " George." But in regard yi Ketch is now belonging to yl Island where his service will be, we especially recommend him to yol consideration as a person well deserving.

The last year when yi. Hoigh came into Swally hole in her voyage to Cambay on freight, there was disburst for provisions for her men 61 Rupi 21 pice w?1l y* Marine Purser hath now taken acco £ of & 'tis herewil.' sent, w!*. please to give us creditt for ; and we call not elce to mind at present, but remaine

Yoi: Honours &Si Ffaithfull Freinds, Suratt, 29$. August 1072. MATTHEW <iI!AY.

CHARLES JAMES. ALEX_A GRIGBIE.

Honourable &^

Our most humble services premised ttSt the 17tU Gurri wee reoJ advices from yi. To the Com- Presidi & his Councell in Bombay directed to yor. Hon™ wch accompany these. They have ^jJA[t!a, Pers'a discoursed to you in brief y'/ state of yoj; Island; w'1; we assure you in v.1 short time wlI\ \ Pr hath resided there is very much improved. Courts of Judicature, and many other importent affaires settled, & yi Almighty blessing his endeavors w£^ are wholly bent to makey1 vol Collony happy and flourishing; we shall find \v± further time he shall spend there will be very advantageous toyo1; Interest in yg farr greatJL improvem* of y* place: in y • mean time during his absence we entreat yo| Hon™ to have y' opinion of us here y * nothing shall be wanting in ol care of yol merohantile affaires in these parts, A if we are not obstructed by b 1255—18

70 SURAT LETTERS.

yJL unsettled condition of the Countrys whose trobles rather increase then debate, we shall hope to have in a readiness sufficient Cargoes to lade home yol ships although all yi stock you have sent out y • year will not now clear o * debts for you at interest. On w2§ subject we have been so large w*L you in former lettf2 wherew^l yol HonE! are satisfied of o£ integrity & y% necessity have been on us for yi takeing up of s^L moneys we shall now forbear o£. furthl. discourse of it. Only whereas you were wont to make a calculation, y± when you sent us out a stock it would advance you soe much by yJL sales of yol. Broad Cloth & other goods here, we must now make another acco±, the markets being soe overlaid by yl great quantitys of oJL Native Comoditys you have sent out those 3 years past y*. yoiL loss will be very con- siderable this year.

All yol lead lies dead it being yi. Kings Comodity, & he such great supplys of it y *_ he wants it not ; & it was yl last month before wee could procure any money from this Govern I. for yi last years lead ; for w^l there is yet remayning 35000 Rupl due ; & all ol Broad Cloth & other woolen manufactures not at all in request here; no march!!- adventuring on y5 there being of yi. last years remayns here, up at Agra & other places quantitys sufficient to supply these Countrys yl year ; in so much yi finding it to bear soe mean a price &c * soe much to yol loss by its sale Ingross, we had concluded to keep yol warehouses open & retaile it, but since yol Hon Tl hath sent out but little treasure this year, & yol other goods unvendi- able, necessity together w^ yo.L ordl will force us for yol reputations & honi to dispose of y"5. y «. best we are able, to clear as much of ol debts as we can, to prevent yl, spreading of yJL cancer w^? insencible eats out yl proffitts of yol stock ; and if wee shall alsoe add to these yol losses wl considerable sums yo£. Island Bombay hath drawne from us & still doth, since yJL delivery & restoration of y*. Lands, yoiL Honii will conclude yl from such stocks as you send us, wee shall never be able to clear you from interest, bear yi. charges of your Island & Ffactorys, & return yol ships full laden w^L. such Comoditys as you require. And wee are sencible of an insupportable burthen, should any miscarriages happen will God divert ; and in regard wee are thus farr engaged for yoJL Honli Interest, & know not wl event yl warr may produce when we have procured goods sufficient for yl lading home yoi this years shipping, we shall advise w*^. yol President & putt a stop to yol. investmii untill wee shall hear further from you per via Aleppo.

Wee have been continually allarumed by Sevagees forces y*. whole year excepting yl months of August & Septembl. The Towne Gates & all passages stopt up for sevil months, those of greatest quality who could prevaile w*L yl Gov! for money gott permission to send their familys out and secure y2 in other parts farr distant. In these troubles wee Mere appre- hensive of yl danger of y* estate wee had of yoJl Honi? in this Towne ; the greatest pan whereof we sent to Swally before y_er raines were sett in & afterwards to Raneale as yi. weather did permitt, wEt hath put you to some charges extraordinary, yett not to be avoided in such exigencies. This markett hath been soe overloyd w^. Corrall by reason y£ places for its rent have been ruynd by yi warrs and wl hath been brought in from other ports, yJL by wl. we have sold of it this year being 24 Chests of Gregio, there is upwards of 20 p. cl loss w<* wee were necessitated to by reason of ol great debts and also apprehending yi Danger it lay in here ; 35 Chests of Ditto Corrall we sent downe this & yi last year, to supply yi Coast Ffactorys, and wee have remayning here 26 Chests ; w£^ now there is so little imported, we hope to dispose of to some proffitt. Rettaduty & Teragglia are in noe request at all, of yi former wee received 24 Chests and sold none, only 7 have been sent to supply the Malla- barr Ffactorys, of Teraglia wee have remayning about 70 Chests haveing sold not above 2 Chests these 3 years : & also wl Barbarisco hath been sent us 3 years past lies on oi hands.

SVRAT LETTERS. . 71

Wherefore wee desire yo * lion™ to send us out noe sorte but y« Gregio & y*, of y_°_ best Copper hath been very low; yi Ditch Belling their pareell 18000 maunds in August last at 17 Rap* pi in;' 6 months discount; it is now risen to 9 & will yett more ; you may please to send out a large quantity of this Commodity for wee are encouraged from y great expence of it in this Country yl it will hold up its price & bear its charges; & Quicksilver grows againe into request little havcing been imported of late, it is now worth 60 Rup8.. y4 maund, <fc likely to rise.

The 5*'? Curri yol four ships arrived from Bombay to Swally barr & came into yi. hole next day, where noe dilligence was wanting in takeing out their goods, & lading such others as we thought necessary to supply yoi. Factorys downe yi Coast wJ£ ; the 24*K wee delivered their dispatches wSl1 might have been aday or 2 sooner, but y* being iujoynd to keep company, they stayed for y8.. " Mediterranian," w^_ ship haveing dangerous Leaks her men would have left her, had she not been haled on shore, and they found out, & wee praise God are now stopt and she a thight ship. They sayld over yl. barr yl. lo^L wf* is late considering they sayle together, & must stop at Carwar to deliver on shore y± stock appointed for y.*_ Ffactory for carrying on y± next years investmL It consists in Broad Cloth, Corrall, Lead, Copper, & Allome to yJL amo^ Rup8 54000 & in Chequeens about 30000 Rupl, besides about 15000 Rup±. more will be sent off to y2 from Bombay in moneys. From thence they proceed to Billiapatam, & so low as Callecutt.where haveing received in what pepper & cardamons those Ffactorys have to lade on board they are to return againe to Carwar to receive in yl Ffactorys investments & to proceed to us.

Wee have not thought it necessary to send any great stock to y • Mallabarr Ffactorys considering yi difficulty we may encounter y± next year in bringing off their Pepper, w?!l. lies so near the enemies port; nor can wee tell wJL attempts they may make upon those Ffactorys or worke upon those unfaithfull Mallabarr by their monies to undermine & betray y£? ; yet y* they may bear up y i. repute of y±. Ffactorys & may have herew*!L to be trading, wee have consigned them from hence to y«. amol of 10,000 Rupi_in Lead, & 10 Chests of Gresio Corrall they will receive from Bombay amo*8. to 20,000 Rupl. more, wc4 will keep them doeing.

Wee trust in Gods good providence over y^ yl yoi ships will all return to us before Christmas to receive in their Europe Cargoes.

By advices to ye..27*?L August from yoi: Govern!8 Agent &^ Counoell at FforteS.* George wee understand yi Rickloff van Goens was then at Nogapatam wi^. a Ffleett of 20 saile of men of warr ; 6 whereof were newly joynd to him from Batavia ; w^ said advices wee reci*. a pacquett for yo_L HonIL w£t wee herew*JL send you, haveing advice also of yol. ship y* "Barna- diston " being arrived to yo£ Fforte y*. 24!!i of said month.

Wee have brought up yoiL treasure, & agreed for yJL sale of it at 12 daies time, for y± ingotts, wee have not yett beat yJL price, haveing not proved y± Assayes to know their intrinsick value ; we have given orders to yoi. Broker Bimgee Parrack to find a Merch • for your Ellephants Teeth, Broadcloth, & Allome, for wee will convert yni into money soe soon as may be ; & we are encouraged to beleive wee shall dispose of about 4000 p" of yo r Broad- cloth, at as good a rate as yJL. last years w°>V was Rupi 3rV P-L yard ; & wee hope for less tyme. Wee here inlarge not, but humbly desire yoJi Hon 7- to accept to yi. sincerity of our endeavours, who are

Yo! Humbc Faithfull Servants, Suratt, 22*;- October 1672. MATTHEW GRAY.

CHARLES J AMES. ALEXAND* GRIGBIE.

72 SUE AT LETTERS.

Honourable & ' %

To Bombay. The 28i!i late at night vol. nimble Jellipdar brought us y£ pacquett MTtl1 advises of yi

18^L,22^L and 234 Currant.'

Since ol last of y± 25!^. wee have been strongly alarmd by Sevegees forces especially on yl 24!^ at night, news being brought yl. Govern! yl they were on their way hither, & ad- vanced soe farr as Chickley, w^L is but G course beyond Gundavee, & might verry well have been here next morning, wcl put us to some trouble in making up all y % treasures againe in handy Chests, w£l wee had sold, but yl sherroffs Mould not take it away: wee had also sent for 100 bales of Cloth up in \L Hoigh, w^. by reason of these troubles, wee dared not bring up hither, but kept y£ in her at Umra; but wanting yl Hoigh to secure oL treasure, wee ordered yl. Broadcloth to be put on board yl " Tho : & Matthew", & y« Hoigh to come up hither : wee sent downe alsoe to Ml Grigbie to send us up some of yl souldiers yl came to conduct y« new Ffriggott downe; & laid in provisions and Powder for yl defence of ol house & yl Comip** estate, here being then all yl Allome, most of yl Ellephants Teeth, many Chests of Corrall, all y • treasure, &1J:

The next morning y«L news cooled, they proveing but a party of yl enemies horse, wch came to try y± fording of yl river, & are returned againe to yl maine body wE1? lie on this side Eamnagur, & may be here at their pleasure: these contynnued troubles are verry prejudiciall to yl Hon^S. Comp^ Affaires, for now noe Merch* will lay out their moneys in Goods, y* they must lie on ol hands, woh wee shall endeavour to dispose of yl best wee can.

The Allome will not off at 30 p. cl loss ; there are soe great Quantitys of it in Towne brought in from Persia, Mill exceeds ours in goodness.

The teeth are not enquired afU at present nor ol Broadcloth ; wl y?r Hoigh brought up is now landed at yl Custome house, & as soon as rec^ here shall dt out 300 p.» yl wee sold at 3| rupees per yard before yl troubles.

Wee have yl same report here y.* you reel from Ffort SJL George yJL yl. Dutch have routed yl. Ffrench from their settlml. on Ceilon & to yl added their takeing of 4 Ffrench ships, how true we know not. But to yo..r; Portugall newes y * yl. Ffrench have 20 men of warr arrived there wee give noe creditt ; were it true wee should hear itt loud enough here ; yo! Genii lettl to yl Hon1?1? Compl together with yl Coast Pacquett & yol. advices to Persia wee have rec^ but they came to late to be sent by yl " Welcome/' on w^} wee sent yol former advices & yl Pacquett alsoe wcl' wee reel from Ffort SI George of wcJ> you have advice. Wee here of noe other ship at present laid in for Persia nor any peece Goods yett brought into Towne ; when there doth, wee shall take yl advantage to forward yol said advices.

The 4 Papers you sent us, about yl errour in yl. weight of yl " Hanniballs" Pepper, the report of y • Suratt Committee, the B.onh}l Comp^ lettl to Si Hellena, & yl. clauses of lett1;? about Chous Tocquer & Somge Chitta, wee have reci yi? all ; & shall at orr leisure send you ol sence thereof. Mil James hath found out y_l errors in yl Pepper to he as M_L Colliers papers make it appear ; occasioned by y£ care of yi. Baggs, lie hath drawne out in a paper in answer thereto W$ goeth herewth wSLif vol Honl thinke fitting may be incerted in yl Genii lettL. And notw^standing there is soe many pounds of Pepper invoyced home on yl " Hanniball" more then was laden, yet when Ml. Gray ballanced yl acco^ of Pepper bee found none remaining by yl aceo^ over & above, wl wee really should have had accord- ing to yl weight of it y *. Mas taken aft f yl ships Mere gone, Mch was y± next year laden on yl " London," soe yl he could not give advice of yl errour, as he Mould have done, had he

SURAT LETTEIIS. 73

discovered it ; bat t<> prevent sucli mistakes hereaft1" he will keep an SO0O* of every Ffactorys pepper apart.

The Ffriggott is now getting in her masts & they are fitting carriages for her Gunns; u« . will send you on her some tymber & provisions.

Wee detaine here yl Madrass & Agra Cossetts in expectation of HonJ? advices; wee have reel Duplicates from Tho. Roach at Agra; hut noe addition to y?_ form! wee sent you hy o 1 last express soe reserve y"l by us. Wee add not more, hut render you our due respects and

remayne

Yor Hon™ &41 most Humble Beivg,

Surait, y± SI*. October 1672. MATTHEW GRAY.

CHARLES JAMES.

Worship.? &<?.

Our last unto you was off yi. 9^ insti, Since wee have re&l yo!5 of yl 4'i1 Disso and having To Bombay, had a small leasure, wee shall answere and give you aL directions of affaires formerly omitted.

As to yl Judges salary, having respect as well to oL M^ orders as also to his present condition & yl quality of y* employ ml, wee have ordered yi his salary be 120 pound to be paid him quarterly, and to begin from his entrance into office, and y*_ he be allowed a horse or Pallankeen with a Sumbrera boy, as also a Gowne yearely at yl. Compa? charge, & he is req™!* to keepe an exact accoL of all monys reel and fines, and having thereout discharged wL is laved out for yl sessions dinners, officers fees and publike expences, yl remaindl he is to pay into yl Hon¥? CompS? cash.

As to Mrr Sterlings estate wee desire you to make strict enquiry thereunto of Girderdas and others, wth whome he had accol8 ; wee here knowing nothing further thereof yl. yi either he or Girderdas were fully sattisfyed in yl proceed of his adventure w^h Mohangundy on y .? ship "Meyolsy." Wee never heard he had any adventure w*£ yi. sd man. If he had wee judge nothing will ever be recovered thereof.

Wee observe yoL. answer to our objection as to yoE, late sale of Europe manufactures wth you, and doe in yl maine approve thereof, onely wee desire you to advise us at wt price you have sould yl said goods, and hereafter wee would have you make firme bargains with yoL. merchants at yi. best price you can to yl_ Comp?? advantage, and not depend on yl uncertaine Rule of yl Price Curr*. of Surat. Yet with all wee advise y* you have due respect to yi. encou- ragement of yl trade of yl Island and yl speedy vent of all Europe commodities and especially English manufactures, which wee would have you turn into mony, soe soon as you can, yi you may be y?, better enabled to carry on those investing. w5^ wee shaU require of you for yl ensuing yeare.

Wee observe wl you advise touching yl. ship " Hunters " freight and doe approve of yor endeavours for her employing , and seeing you declare she will stand us but in 300 Rupl p. month wee are contented yl you let her out for 500 Rup*. p. month, w°i? is as little as wee can reasonably take : if you can advance more you will doe yi Comp?? good service, yet wee advise yl you have regard herein alsoe to yl encourageml of y* merchants and y* good of yl Porte.

b 1255-19

74 S.UBAT LETTERS.

Wee heartily lament yi frequent mortality of oL countrymen and doe with you impute it to their grosse and scandalous Irregularitys in their sickness, wih wee judge would be much prevented if wee had an Hospitall, wherefore wee have determined God willing to erect soe necessary a building w^ all speed without attending further order from England, and wee doe hereby desire you to prepare materialls wlhout further delay on yi Hon**!* Compi3 charge or if you want wee will supply you from hence.

Wee have considered of y!_ two modells wih in y» maine wee like well off, but it seemeth to us yL they are too narrow, and not soe much yard roome left as there ought to be, nor is there roome enough for yl Chyrurgeon and his family and other attendants as there ought to be. Wherefore wee have ordered here another moddell to be drawne out more large and airy, and consequently more healthy for yi sick people, according to v& wee would have you govern yoi selves ; but first of all wee would have you advise yi_ place where it is to be built, for wee are not much inclined to y*_ place formerly designed by Collonell Bake fearing yl ye aire is not soe good there and it is too neere ye. sea. Wherefore doe you chuse out another place more convenient, having with all regard to yiline of yL. ffortification, and alsoe to yL line designed for yLChristian Towne, and w5 you have pitcht upon a convenient place, and appointed a place for a garden adjoyning thereunto advise us thereof. Let yi foundation be of good stone and lime, and let ye_ ground be raised at least 3 or 4 foot high ; yi walles may be built of sand stone and lime, and raised to a convenient height. For other matters wee referr unto you, as alsoe wee doe yL disposall of y%m Chyrurgeon, and of their chests of medicines desiring you to avoid and prevent all occasions of just complaint, either from their Chyrurgeons or their patients.

Wee have considered yi request wSJ1 yi Gentlewomen have made to you touching their allowance for 1 yeare, and yL reason they alledge concerning it, and though wee are very willing to gratifie y™ in any thing yl lyes in oL power, and doe beleive wi they say concerning Ml Lewis to be probable, yet wee declare wee cannot dispose of oL M™ estates without their order, and therefore they excuse us if wee doe not gratifie their desire ; but whereas you say some of yE are in soe meane a condition yL they cannot subsist without it, in such case and noe otherwise, wee inorder y* you allow either 6 or 8 p.does a month those yL are in reall necessity, yL they be p.served from want, which withall they must understand as an act of charity from yi Company in respect to their want ; but those who are able wee expect should p.vide y™selves, and wheras you give us notice yL some of yL women are growne scandalous to oL Nation, Religion and Gov'LmL-Wee require you iny!LHon^e Comp^f name to give y™ all faire warning y*r they doe apply yEselves to a more sober and Christian conversation, otherwise yL sentence is yL y*.they shall be confined totally of their liberty to goe abroad and fed w!* bread and water till they are embarqued on board ship for England.

Wee take notice of yi Depi-L GovL request, for yi taking up 1000 Rup3 on yi house and land wSJ* he hath bought hee says on his arrears of salary, in persuance of y«_ Compel order, wherein wee have thought good to gratifie him, reqling yi said 1000 Rup3 be charged to his debt, and yL he give a writing wherein he is to bind yi sL house and land over to ye Company for their security till he hath cleared accol with yE.

Wee have p.used j%. petition of yL souldiers w=Jl came on yi " Ann," and esteem it unjust and unreasonable, and therefore cannot allow y1? any pay till from their arrivall on yL Island.

Wee herew^. send you yi Honb|e Compel Directions touching your regular and legall proceeding in yi_ lands and estate belonging to Alvaro Pires De Tavora, and reqi you to per- forme yL same accordingly, except you have reasons sufficient prompting you to yi contrary, wcL wee would have you well consider with yL Judge before you begin, and advise us his

SURAT LETTERS. 75

opinion ; and in regard there are sevl! pretenders to some p^> and stipends out of said estate, vizi, Christovar de Sourza, and others who have been with us to demand their right, wee would have you cause strict examination to be had of their respective titles, and let y™ be proved in y* Comp*? Court of Judicature in a legall way, and y* see if you doe y™ all justice and allow to each person wLof right belongs to y* reserving to y!_ Companys use w*, onely belongs to yi- criminall Alvaro Pires De Tavora, in w^ be carefull y * you be not abused by y«_ false suggestions and pretences of yi_ sev11 claimers, but as you are to doe y™ right and justice soe be circumspect y*. they doe y* Company noe wrong.

Wee expect suddenly to receive yi. goods wcIl you have provided for England which fayle not to send us with all speed by some secure conveighance, for wee shall want y"5 very much . and yi. sooner wee receive y?l yl better. In regard yl ship wee fear cannot y* yeare touch at Bombay, wherefore hasten Girderdas w*_ you can possible, and let yi_ sd. goods be laden on yc. Comp^i owne shipping, and in failure thereof on their owne Shibarrs well guarded wth Souldiers to defend yE from yl Mallabarrs, who wee heare are numerous and very daring yi yeare, wch being yl needfull as present, wee comend you to God's protection and remaine

Your very Loving freinds,

Swat, 18* Decembr. 1675. GERALD AUNGIER.

MATTHEW GRAY. CHARLES JAMES.

Honored Freinds,

It is long since wee rec'i any Lres from you, but by or_ advices from Fort Si George To FfL wee understand of your good health, w* pray God continue. Ye bearers hereof are yl ReV* George t erend Padrees Cardo Sevim Abate, and Pedro Gefrard, who being dessigned for Metchlepatan, ep and from thence to Syam and Tonqueene, have thought good to value yHLselves on or l.res of recommendation \\c)\ wee have been y« rather p.swaded to afford y"J. In regard wee have rec'i worthy charecters of their quality, discreet Comportm* and Pious conversation from yi Consull of Aleppo, and others our good freinds, and wee intreat you to favour y5 with your freindly countenance and assistance in w*_ they shall reasonably desire from you, wherein you will doe right to our freindship, and confirme yl good esteeme these gentlemen doe enter - taine of yl. knowne civillityes of yi English nation.

By a ship lately arrived from Persia wee rec^. some private l.res from England w^L. advise yi_ safe arrivall of yl. 2 ships " Ffaulcon " and " Mary " on ye. 30^ June. Our last l.res are dated yeT 19th July, and y» none of yor;. Coast ships were arrived but were expected every day. Yi Hon!ile Companys auction was valued at 240 per cent. In England blessed bee God all was well ; his Ma^? not onely enjoying a universall peace with all his neighbours, but to his owne great HonoL andyl repute of y*; nation he holds yl ballanceof Europe in his hands, being declared mediator of y<L generall peace now treated off betweene yl house of Austria &°f confede- rates and yer Ffrench King, wch treaty is now held at Nemigan Holland, whither all y* Princes concerned have sent their Ambassadors. In y* meanetime yl war is violently prosecuted in all p4!, but yt success of yl Campania seemed more favourable to yi confederates yn to y French, for ye; Sweedish Army \vch had entered yi_ territories of yl Duke of Brandenburg in favour of yi Ffrench had reci. a notable repulse, and yl Ffrench Army in Germany com- manded by Marshall Turine had fought a most bloody battell w^L yi Emperors Army, wherein y' victory was a long time disputed and neither side will yeild it to y* other ; but yi Consull

76 SURAT LETTERS.

of Aleppo writes y*_ it is ceitaine yl Ffrench have lost many brave men, andyl yl General Turine* was killed by a great shot ; and yl is all y«_ newes of moment wee hitherto reclL. •

Inclosed wee send you \\% Gazzets are as yet come to hand, w!* after p.usall wee desire you to send forward to yl Agent and Councell of Ffort SI George together w^ oL. L™ here inclosed.

The ship "Returne" arrived here on yl 6* December from Syam having left ML Hammon Gibbon and others settled in yl Ffactory, whome yeT King treats with all civillity, expressing great kindness to yl Hono^£ Compy. and Nation.

The " Unicorne" set sayle from hence on yl 13* December full Laden for Bantam ; yl other 4 ships are now taking in their lading for England but shall be in exceeding streight to find goods for y ™, ; w^1 being at present wl wee calle to mind worth yoL notice, with all kind salutes wee remaine

Your very loving Freinds, Swcdly Marine, December y% 20% 1G75. GERALD AUXGIER.

MATHEW GRAY. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Wors11, &cl

To Bombay. Seeing you apprehend soe great a disappointml by yL. ships not touching at Bombay wee

shall soe contrive it yl one ship shall certainely call upon you, and therefore you may order yol affaires accordingly.

Wee take notice w!_you write touching yl Prizes taken by yl, " Hunter" Ffrigatt belonging to yl. Cap!i Chaule & Dabull, touching their surrender of w<* y%. Cap'J! of Chaule hath already sent his l.res of Intersession, & seeing you declare yL yl vessell and goods are of soe little value yl yl. detainne will be of little or no profitt to yl Compel & y* surrender will turne much to yl. Reputation of yl Porte, and seeing alsoe wee are sensible of yl. Capt5? of Chaule & Dabull may have frequent occasions to doe yl Compel service, wee doe consent to gratifie ym soe far as to relinquish yl share yl yl Company may pretend to in y« said Prizes, but they must understand it as a peculier respect wee have for their p.sons, and yl it shall not be brought into example for yl future ; but wee declare alsoe y*_ wee cannot Relinquish yi Just & Right pretence as belongs to yl men who were engaged in yl service, whome wee will have allowed a Reasonable share according to yl custome of yl sea, w£^ wee leave to you there to adjust, in such manner as you shall conclude will most conduce with encouragement of or_ People & wi^ sattisfaction to yl persons concerned.

Wee take notice of yiReinderos of Bussein Pollicy, to invite merch^ to ylporte by abating halfe customes, wherein wee can noe wayes Blame him but commend him as a prudent actor, & yl better to prevent any inconvenience yl may accrue to oll Porte thereby, wee would have you call a Councell, & advise wl1 yl most knowing merch*? of yl Island, whether it may conduce to yl Comp5! Interest to allow any freedome or abatement of o^ customes to such mercMs

* Tnrenne fell in the battle of S*sbach, 17th Joly 1675. " Temple repaired to the Hague in July 1674. Hol- land was now secure, and France was surrounded on every side by enemies. Spain and the Emperor were in arms for the purpose of compelling Louis to abandon all that he had acquired since the treaty of the Pryrennes. A Congress for the purpose of putting an end to the war was opened at Nimeguen under the mediation of England in 1675 and to that Congress Temple was deputed. The work of conciliation, however, went on very slowly, the belligerent powers were still sanguine, and the mediating power was unsteady and insincere." Macaulay's Essay on Sir William Temple.

8URAT LETTERS. 77

as pass to & fro without discharging on island ; & send us yo^ opinion thereof, yl wee send such orders as shall I"' necessary for such affaires.

The Mallabarr Coaster returning to us from Camhaya with about 100 Candy of corne wee have unladen her, & Returned her to Cambaya, to bring y°, Comp?5 goods from thence ; and wee have sent downe ye. sd corne by y« " Good Neighboure" to be delivered to those to whome it does belong.

By y°, " Happy Rose" lately arrived from Persia, wee rec^ some private l.res from England, w5ll advise ylsafe arrivall of yl. two ships u Faulcon" & " Mary," on y«_ 30*!? June: or last l.res are dated yl 19*^ July, & yl none of yl. Coast ships were arrived but were expect 1 every day. Y* Honorable Comp5? auction was valued at 240 p. ci.. In England blessed be God all was well ; his M,i,u not only Enjoying a universall Peace with all his neighboures, but to his owne great bono 1 & yl repute of yl nation he holds y ! ballance of Europe in his hands being declared mediator of yi. GenJL Peace now treated off betweene yl house of Austria &cl Confederates & y± Ffrench King, which treaty is now held at Nemigan in Holland, whither all y •. Princes concerned have sent their ambassadores. In y_£ meane time yl war is violently prosecuted in all pi, but yl successe of y • Campania seemed more favourable to yl Confederates yl to v • Ffrench, for yl Swedish Army wcl| had entered yl. territories of yl Duke of Brandenburge in favour of yl Ffrench had recA a notable Repulse, & yl Ffrench Army in Germany commanded by Marshall Turine had fought a most bloody battell with yl Emperours army, wherein yl victory was a long time disputed & neither side will yield to yl other ; but y± Consull of Aleppo writes yi. it is certaine yl Ffrench have lost many brave men, & y± yl GenJl Turine was killed by a great shot ; & yl is all yl. newes of moments wee hitherto have received.

On yl ship " Good Neighbour" Cap * Adderton, take their passage to you Ml. Weatherd*en who hath since altered his Resolution of going home, & now is willing againe to live on y • Island, alsoe Parum yl musitian, whome wee have sent downe supposing he will be more useful to you yl he can be any wayes to us ; to both w5J2 wee would have you be kind assisting y5L in w *. you may.

This is wJL wee call to mind at present worthy advice, soe remaine

Your very Loving Freinds, GERALD AUNGIER. Sioally Marine, jf* 2*. January 1675-76. MATHEW GRAY.

CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Wee inclosed send you Invl of what provisions laden on the " Good Neighbour" amounting to R 1 825 : 40 pice, also the invoice of what wee sent you on the " Fleece" WJ| amounting to RiL 2833, for both which we desire you to give ol account creditt.

As for yl drugg & garden seeds wee desire you to reserve us some of each sorte and send us by y5 first opportunity.

Your Loving Freinds, Swally Marine y± X'Jl January 1675-76. GERALD AUNGIER.

CASAR CHAMBRELAN. MATTHEW GRAY.

b 1255—20

78

SUE AT LETTERS.

To Bombay.

To Bombay.

Worshipfull &£1

Wee are now in answere of yoli by y_L " Hunter,'' whotne wee have unladen, alsoe yl Shibarr with y± Bombay goods, wJ* are not soe great quantityes as wee expected to have rec.4 , neither have wee rec4 any cloth from Goga for accoJ of y. •. Island, & doe very much blame Girder y± he hath not his goods sooner y * wee might have had time to overlooke y5L, & give you oJL opinion of their goodness, but now wee are forced to ship y™ off soe soone as landed. The wooden Maulls wee have recel. and shall be sent for England accordingly.

As to advising you y± Price CurrA of Europe goods in Surat y* you may adjust yor accoi with y4 Merch*i to whome you sould yo£. goods, wee desire joJL patience till after dispatch of y^ Ships, w° wee shall be more at leasure.

The seituation of y± place whereon to erect y± Hospitall all wee leave totally to yo4 judgem^! to act therein as you shall thinke most convenient ; & wee would have you soe neere as possible you can comply with oj. desires in yl modell wee sent you downe ; as to the length and breadth & all other dimentions ; those openings out of yJL wards & Chyrurgeons lodgings are dessigned for windowes and not for doores, and y± Chyrurgery roomes must be one story high ; wee shall be mindfull on all occasions to supply you with large quantities of Chynam, being sensible of your great expences thereof, & wee only want boats to carry it downe.

To Erecting yj? Church, & y_? place where, wee shall have time enough to consider thereof, seeing wee cannot get in hand w^ it till wee have answere from y± Hono^f Compf ; & alsoe of y* overflowne lands, to whome wee have referred o Iselves for their appro vail and directions.

Concerning yl Dutch Commanderes request to you wee would have you use y jL accustomed clvillitys of yl Porte yl is used to Ffrench and other & nations in y± like nature, but be very cautious in letting them prye into yl strength and force of y J. Island.

The sevJl copies sent up wee have reel, w^ shall be sent home to the Honors Company.

Of Lieut J. Becks Peticion wee shall say nothing to at present, but referr him to o*. answere w£ wee have duely considered of it and are more at leasure.

Oz Goods come downe soe slowly, yJL wee feare there is noe probability of any of y5 ships touching at yJL Island, wherefore wee would not have you depend thereon.

The " Hunter" Ffrigatt wee shall dispatch to you very suddenly laden with iron and other goods ; w~ being yJ? needf ull at present, wee remaine

Your Loving Freinds, GER: AUNGIER.

Swally Marine yS. 11±- January 1675-76. MAT^ GRAY.

CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Worshipfull &£L

Wee are now in answer of yoL. Genii l.res of yL&^f 101^ and 12J* January, having already acknowledged y± reel of yoZ. Bookes, w£j* wee had not time to examine but made y*£. up in oil box y4 very same Day wee recA y™ ; yol Pacquetts were alsoe enclosed in a£ owne and wee have recommended what wee found necessary to y± CompX relating to y i. Island.

Wee observe wJL you write in yol l.re and Consultation touching y± quarrell and duell fought between Cap 1 Minchin & M JL Hornigold, w2^ is yl usuall effect of yJL accursed Bombay Punch, to y± shame, scandall and ruine of oL. nation & religion. Wee thought M.L Hornigold and Capl Minchin had been persons of a more sober and regular conversation ; and yl they had more regard to yi. Compel authority, y± observation of yJL lawes and Governml, & to their owne reputation, then to rend-L themselves soe scandalous as they have done first in besotting y!"selves with drunkenness, and afterwards in breaking yl lawes. Wee doe very well

SUIi AT LETTERS. 79

approve of wl you have done in suspending y™ from their offices and confining y?, & doe discommend yl rediculous policy of jJL Gentleman who was of yJL contrary opinion ; and wee doe reqi. you hereafter to be very strict, & severe in yl- execution of yJL Compf? lawes without respect of persons w tsoever. Wee had resolved as a just punishm 1 for their offence not only to have continued yl suspension of yl said criminalls from their offices, but alsoe to have expressed further demonstration of oil just displeasure against y™ ; but you having interceded soe much in their behalves, all yl Command*™ of f*. Europe shipping alsoe having become their mediators, and they also having expressed a sence of their ffault, and promising never to be guilty of y.l like againe, not having knowne y5L formerly subject to such irregulari- ties, wee doe thinke good to restore y^L againe to their places, only for their better remem- brance sake wee doe reqJL y 1 they be fined 50 Xeraphins a peece towards yl building yl new Hospitall w^ wee require you to see performed.

Wee doe much resent y 1 ffoolish Imprudent proceeding of Ml Stephen Vatick in discovering yl secrets of yl Councell in declaring yl sence of any member thereof in cases of justice ; wherein he hath discovered himselfe to be of a nature either ill disposed, or uncapable of soe weighty charge, wee doe in yl Compel name severely check him for it and reql him to forbeare such practices as he values his owne Honol & his future good.

Wee are sorry to understand yl. Death of Capl Leif * Ponting ; and require yl Leifti Beck (who is now y* ancient officer on yl Island) doe supply his place and Command yl Gov™ CompI, it of right belonging unto him ; and yl yl. other CompI be called yl Dep*i5 Gov ™ CompI. & be commanded by Leif i. Ffletcher, for wee shall not make any new officers being willing to ease yl Hono^l! Comply charge soe much as possibly wee may.

We would have you put to sale y • Publik Revenues at yl usual time & to use all just and prudent meanes to raise yHL as high as you can ; yl customs alsoe wee would have farme out ; for wee Judge it will ease yl CompX much of their expences ; and if you doe find it will prove to yl Comp5£ advantage to let it out for 2 or 3 years wee leave it to you, only be careful yJL you take good security for all yol Farme. According to yl usuall Customes wee shall not limit you any price to bid the Comp?? acco *. or any other Particular, but leave it to yol care & prudence. Act therein as you shall thinke most consistent with yl Compl? Interest and the Publicke good.

Wee shall supply Cap* May with 1500 Rupl if he shall want it.

As to yl. quarrelle betweene May and Wrightington wee shall let y?L both know o£. sence of their Rashness and Imprudence ; let them beware how they give us such another occasion of offence ; but as to their Proceedings at Law wee doe not thinke good to stopp yj? course of Justice upon an idle suggestion of yl. Judges Partiality whome wee have a better opinion off yl to thinke he will fforfeit his creditt, and it may be his office also, by an unjustifiable sentence.

The Commd™. of ships as well as all others ought to be subject to Law, in case of Justice and Common Right, nor are they more free from arrests y° any others ; but if you find y™ prosecuted on triviall causes by vexatious suites at their departure, wc^ may tend to y4 loss and hindrance of their voyage, and loss and prejudice to yl Hono^e Company, you ought not to admitt of such proceedings, and j •. officers off y.1 Court to forbeare prosecuting y?, till their returne, and y ° they may take their course at last.

When yl Pi was at Bombay he made noe question to procure freights and voyages for yl " Mayboome," " Hunter" & " Revenge," w?J? would have bourne their charge, but wee are sorry to find in yol Lr.1 yJL you cannot procure y™a freight from yl Island. It is o£ earnest desire yl those vessels may be employed to & from y_l Island, as well for yl security of yl Port as

80 SUB AT LETTERS.

encouragement of Merch!3 trade, & wee would have you by all meanes endeavour it, though you let y?L out on cheape Freights, to Mocha, Muscat, Persia or Bussorah. Be serious and earnest in yl affaire. And tell yl Broker Girderdas wee would have him encourage yi MercM? what he can, for whome wee Judge it far safer to trade on yl Oompy ships paying reasonable Freight y 3. adventure their estates in Little Grabs which are subject every day to yi. surprisall of Mallabarrs. Wee would alsoe have you encourage yl Merch'i to trade to Pattah on yl coast of Melinda, and alsoe Sinda on yl the coast of Pumenea, and if you can ffreight any of yi Comp!^ vessels yi way wee would have you doe it.

The Depii' GovL did lately send yl PJL a bill of Exchange drawne by Sevajee Rajah upon his correspondent in Golconda, being on acco ^ of money due to some Merch^j on Bombay & paid for corne and other goods sold to Sevajee's Soobedarrs by his owne ordl , y * Remainder of y* money was to be invested in corne for Sevajees owne accoi, Yi. said bill was accordingly sent up, but is againe Returne unto us, yl Person on whome it was drawne being departed from Golconda before its arrivall. Y± bill wee now Returne you here inclosed, seeing the Company y^selves are concerned in yi business as well as their Merchi whome they are bound to protect ag!i any violence of their neighbours. Wee thinke good that you owne yl cause publikly as yl Compyi concerned, and in order to yl speedy recovery of said money yi. you send up y -1 chief e Broker Girderdas together with Narran Sunay and one or 2 able English men who in yl Compel name are to deliver yi letter herewith sent to Sevajee and Moropunditt together with another Letter from yl Depiil Gov I & in yl said name to demand satisfaction for yi! said money together with interest and other damages and they are not to depart till they have satisfaction. But if they see noe probability of sattisfaction yl yl English- men are first to make protest in yi. Comp^ name agsi their proceedings, and declare yi. if any damage or breach of friendship doth acrew thereby, they are yl cause thereof ; & yi they are to returne and having given you an accoi of their proceedings, you are to signifie yi same to us, and wee shall take such course therein as shall consist wt^ oJL Masters. Hono * Interest and security of their Merch*! and trade hereafter in those p*L. All w^ wee heartily commend to yoJL observance & remaine

Yol very Loving Friends, Swally Marine, 24l± JanJL 1675-76. GE* AUNGIER.

MATHEW GRAY. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

May it Please yo?8 Hono1!, To the Company. The " E. I. Merchi" set sayle from yl Barr y<. 181h Curr^, y" "Ann" yl l9Lh, y*

" London" the 20!* Ditto. Wee pray God send y™ a prosperouse voyage to you. By yE? wee sent you oJL bookes of acco*,8 & all necessary papers, and in ol GenH wrote you at large touching all yoJL affaires, coppy whereof wee now send you and thereunto referr.

It was y 1 30^ January before yl Caphilaes from Ahmadawad, Kely vely & Agra were all arrived, w^ goods wee reserved for y2T " Massingbird," having emptyed y£T Marine Warehouses of all other goods wJ soever in lading of ye. other 3 shipps. Since wee knew India wee never observed such an universall obstruction in trade from all p!j! as yl yeare hath produced, in delayes, stopping, plundering of Caphilaes, noe way being secure from danger.

The Coolys Rashpoots appearing in bodyes of 2 or 3000 and carry whole Caphilaes away, yol HonoE! have suffered much in yi common calamity. For besides y 1 detaine of yo 1 Ships soe long for wants of goods, w^ is noe meane prejudice, one of yol Caphilaes hath been totally

SURAT LETTER8.

81

plundered, for recovery whereof wee have made ol application to all yi. Kings Gov™ of those p*i, demanding satisfaction by virtue of y* Kings Phirm^, but finding not yi redresse wee expected, & hearing yi yi GovL of Ahmedavad, Mamud Emyn Kaun is come downe with a great army to punish those theevish rebells, wee have thought necessary to send Ml Isaac Reynardson to meet him with a convenient present, the better to perswade him to procure satisfac- tion of your losses ; & M L Reynardson having by his very prudent and ingenious comportment, gained reputation & interest with yi said Gov!; and other Officers, wee promised o.r selves restitution of said goods through his good management, and alsoe yi care be taken to secure yo£ Caphilaes better hereafter.

Wee advised you formerly yi ill successe of yol factory at Dungom neare Brainpore where Ml. Samuell Austin was taken prisoner, plundered of all he had to yi very clothes on his back, & yol factory house burnt, all yi goods therein, & as yi weavers destroyed by Savajees flying Army. Touching w°h wee thought fit tosend upM_T Austen himself to Savajee Rajah, to complain & expostulate y? great violence done us when we were at peace with him, whose narrative wee send you herewith. Sattisfaction could not be procured, Savajee declaring y * he was not lyable to make good any losse wee sustained in his enemyes country ag?* whome he prosecuted a just war ; he blamed yi GenlLf his Army much for yi violence don us ; & to yfL end wee should not be subject to such injuries hereafter he gave us his coles or paseports for y 1 place as also for many other f actoryes ; but wee know not how farr they may be trusted unto, and therefore wee shall adventure noe more yn_ yi. necessity of yol affairs force us unto, for y Ibetter procuring of goods for England. Mf Austin hath in yi affaire don you good service and behaved himselfe prudently ; his Losses were great and bespeake yol favorable eye towards him.

Sxcally Marine, February yi. 2f, 1675

76

Yol Honoli most humble Servants, G. A. M. G. C.J. C. C.

Worshipfull &? Respected Freinds.

0_r last unto you was of y*. 24^ January since w*J? wee have received yo?? of the 17*^ & 27^ January to the materiall part whereof wee now answere.

As to y_£ Pursur of the " Mayboome," wee understand that he ran over board of himselfe in a violent fit of a frenzy, but yi " Mayboome " being now bound for Bombay, wee Judge it convenient and doe require that the matter be examined in y® Court of Judicature at Bombay according to Law, yi being a proper place for such cases, and yi the said custome be held in all cases of yi like nature. And as wee desire that Justice may be don soe wee would have you take care yi vexatious suites, and contrivances layed by common Barristers to disturb y «_ quiet of good people, may be discouraged, and prevented. And let y* Judge know from us that wee expect he maintaine the gravity, integrity & authority of his Office ; and that he doth not bring a disrepute on the Court of Bombay by lightness, paritiality, self-seeking, or countenancing common Barristers in wih sort of vermine they say Bombay is very unhappy.

b 1255—21

To BombaT.

82 SUB AT LETTERS.

As to Madam Shaxtons request of leaving y* Island and going to Rojapore, wee doe most unwillingly receive such applications to us, because they tend to ill consequence, and are a breach of ordrs and good Government ; but seeing Madam Shaxton is a person to whose prudence and virtue wee have regard, and knowing y* her desire doth proceed not from a vaine affection of change, but from a reall distemper of health, wee thinke good to condescend thereunto provid- ed y* Compy be not put to any charge for her transport or returne or stay at Rojapore ; and y * you write to Mi Child to take care jl yi Company be allowed for the extraordinary charge of y • Gentlewomen there during their stay, & y* they doe not stay there longer y* necessity as to their health requires.

As to y • Soape it is already ordered to be fS Companys Commodity, and wee would have you soe continue it. To wih end whatsoever is brought in from abroad must pay 9 p.ci custome and if yi will not discourage y • Merchants from bringing of it in, you must raise yi custome higher to 12 p.ci till they be totally discouraged. And wee would have you study all just & prudent meanes to improve yl commodity y i most you can to y £ Comp¥ advantage ; and if you want any materiall from hence to be bought at the best hand, advise us thereof and they shall be sent you.

Wee approve what you have done touching y • theives condemned, but hereafter wee have thought good to make y* standing ord I that whatever theives are condemned in Court shall be kept in chaines and at constant worke in Bombay till they can be transported to Si Helena, and if they be slaves, and doe belong to any proprietor on yi Island the Company shall allow y?j 30 Seraphins p. head ; and y.! wee doe require you to observe as a standing ordr amoungst you.

As to y • Ffreight of yi Corne sent downe on yi Mallabarr Coaster, it was agreed that yj? owner should pay the accustomarry Ffreight betweene Surat and Bombay, which you are to demand for all goods hereafter laden, or to be laden on yi Comp^? vessells.

Wee doe allow yi Mi John Pettit take up 1 000 Rupi on arrers of wages, but reqf you take care y* you see yi monyes layed out in building, & let yi Dep*i? Governour and Mi Pettit signe bonds to y f_ Company for yi monyes soe taken up, and make over said houses for their security.

Wee are sorry to heare yi Mallabarrs are soe bold as to disturb yol Porte, and wonder you doe not send out yi Shibarrs well manned to drive y1? away. Yi " Revenge " is bound on a voyage to Persia. Wee now send y • " Mayboome " downe, who will alsoe be employed as you will heare hereafter. But you will have yi " Mallabarr" Prow there, and Shibarrs well provided and such as you can well mann ; it is a shame for you to affraid of yi Mallabarrs and suffer y"» to domineer. Nor shall wee allow that as any just reason for yi lessening yol Customes, seeing it lyes in yoi power to cleare the Porte when you will.

Wee take notice of yi Report of Savajees death wlh is alsoe confirmed here. Wee pray be caref ull to recover that mony which is due to yi Company and the Merchants on yi Island for the last goods sould, and trust noe more of the Companyes Estates in any of yi Soobedarrs hands till that debt be firste satisfyed, and then be as weary as you can, how can you trust those people till they keepe their words better with us then hitherto they have done.

Wee have more Chinam ready for you and shall send it downe by yi first opportunity ; and shall ord * Mr. Reynardson to send yi. salt boates from Broach hither to be laden with Chinam bricks and tyles to be provided for them.

Wee have already sent you directions touching ylsaleofyi publicke rents and of the settling the 2 Companyes w<* wee require you to follow. Yi Pursur in y % "Mayboomes" place wee

SURAT LETTERS.

83

have setled on M* Selater newly come from Bantam who hath promised to behave himself e soberly and dilligently in y,e Comp?? affaires and setling the accotu of y? ship, which if he deth not performe advise us thereof y .* wee may ordrr accordingly.

Wee take notice of yol proceedings touching Alvaro Pires his case and presuming it is according to law and yJ Comp??. Directions wee approve thereof.

Ml John Child having advised us that the Soobedarr of Rojapore hath a great quantitie of coconutts to be laden for account of freight, to be sent for to Suratt, wih coconuts wee are to dispose off thereout to pay the Compay yi first payment of what agreed on, per contract, wee have thought good to ord J the " Mayboome " downe thither as well to lade soe much as she can bring her selfe, as to be Convoy to such other vessells, as wee would have you hire at Bombay for Transport of said goods from Rojapore to Surat. Wee enclosed send yi contract made betweene Ml Child and the Soobedarr of Rojapore and would have you not to fayle to send downe boates sufficient for y % bringing up the said goods, to w^ end you may imploy the Mallabarr Coaster and y.e. Comp5! Shibarrs, if not otherwise disposed, & in want of y" you may hire a good large Grab or 2 at Mahim, Bandora and Bombay at as cheape rate as you can and send them downe with all speed to Rojapore either together with y • " Mayboome " or before her to yJj end noe time may be lost, for yiL sooner wee get that money into o_r hands y_e better. As to yS " Mayboome," y • CapJ tells us there is a necessity of haling her a shore at Bombay, and by a surveigh held upon her here wee understand yi she is in a very ill condition and doth not deserve any more charge to be layed out upon her ; wee therefore give you this order con- cerning her, that if what worke the Cap-* doth require be done unto her be a small charge and will make her serviceable yl voyage you may disburst it ; but if y.? charge be extraordinary and noe probability of making her serviceable wee would have you keepe her in port as a guard- ship soe long as she can swim and yJ? breake her up ; in y « meane time using her soe much as possible you can, and in such case fayle not as before to hire y? vessells and send to Rojapore for y* bringing up the said goods soe soone as may, and advise us speedily whether you can send downe any vessells on said designe or noe.

Seeing it is of duty to use all prudent means can be contrived for y ° retrenching the great charge of y • Island and Garrison we thinke good to recommend to you here enclosed, certaine proposalls wc^ wee concluded on in Councell before y? late warr the 4th December 1672 ; but y 2 Warr then falling soe unexpectedly could not be put in execution ; now it pleasing God to give us a peace wch wee hope will be lasting wee req? you to put the said ordi in execution soe soon as conveniently you can, and advise w * difficulties or Inconveniencies you apprehend therein.

Wee alsoe desire you to send us up monthly yf rolls of y ? sould™ inlisted, in both com pa - nyes together with y? Commission and Staffe officers.

The " Massingbird " sett sayle for England y? 5*> Ins**, wee pray God send her a safe and seasonable passage to ol Hono^.e Masters. Wee call not ought else to mind at present soe Remaine

Surat y fm S* February 1675-76.

very Loving Freinds, GER. AUNGIER. MATT: GRAY: CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

84 SUBAT LETTERS.

ML Samuell Austin hath againe earnestly intrieated us to Remind you of his concerne with Sevajee, wee desire that you would use yoJ endeavour for y « procuring him speedy sattis- afction seeing he is fearefull should Sevajee be dead as it is reported, he would never "recover a farthing for his losse.

By the " Seodapore Merchant" newly arrived from Persia wee have recsl a Paquet from the Hono^ Company wch continues the safe arrivall of the " Faulcon" and " Mary " and all the last yeares shipping from the coast. Oil latest advices are to the beginning of August, w^ say the Ffrench have rather lost than gained this last Campania, that the confederates have overthrowne them and the Swedes in 3 battells, and that there is a Rebellion broke out in Ffrance w^1 may cause the Ffrench King to look nearer home.

Mil Adames now takes his passage on y± " Mayboome " to Bombay in ordl to settle his acco^i with y£ Company and others before he goes to Persia whither he goes on ship " Returne ". He desires us to bespeake yal assistance in doing him right against those, who he sayes detaine it unreasonably from him ; he referrs himselfe wholly to yof Justice, and desires you would determine whatever differences that may arise betweene him and any other in accounts. And wee desire yi you alsoe deale impartially, doing Justice without favour or affection to either side, for in soe doing none of them can complaine of you and wee shall well esteeme yorr proceedings. Multiplicity of business hath made us hitherto forget to write you o£ opinion about the coynes you sent us wee like well of the new stamp with Pax x Deo on one side and the

Compl8 armes on y f other side, but not with the Compel mark /£ c\ . And would have you

E

proceed in minting y ? remaining silver of the same stamp, and the copper wee would alsoe have of the same stamp. As to the Finnys or Bugeroocks wee like well the new stampe and weight, and hope now they will passe current, and desire to know how many seraphins or rupees per maund Bombay they yeild the Company over and above the losse of weigh in melting, and the charge ; and likewise fayle not to send us an exact acco * of yor silver mint as also of the copper, what the charges of minting each are, w~ yL Cornp^ proffit hereby. Of y_8 affaire send us as particular accl as you can.

The Governor of Surat Sied Mamhud and sevli Eminent persons have desired us to send for some good water mellons, and of the best black and white grapes especially black grapes of y* Long sort together with whatsoever excellent fruite procurable in Bombay, Bandora &£? places adjacent w^ wee find are very acceptable here. Fayle not therefore to send us some good quantities of said mellons and grapes, &5?; by every boate that comes up and when you have noe boates bound yi. way hire a boate on purpose and send y™ up to us and passe ye charge to y* Compai acco_L, in regard nothing can better please those great men y£ such sort of fruite.

M4 Mansell Smith &»

Our Loving Freinds,

To Mallabar Since oL Last unto you of the 15* Ffebruary per the ketch 'Phenix' wee have rec4 none of

Coast. y0™ : yet having advise that there are 2 vessells bound from Broach to J&. port wee have to

advise you that a large Mallabarr vessell bound from some porte on yi Coast to Broach off Diu

encountred with a Portugues vessell, who would have made prize of her. She resolutely

resisted and fought them four dayes together. At length finding them to powerful! for her, she

was forced to disburthen herselfe of some part of her lading, and came into Bombay under tht

SURAT LETTERS. 85

Command of the ffort the Portuges vessel persuing her as far as dranjah, where he went in his hoate to Bombay and from thence tooke a handole* and went to Bassein, acquainting the Cap1. Generall of all that had passed, who immediately in a hot passionate humour raises 500 or 600 men (and orders the raising more) and comes as farr asBandora: sends word to y° Dep!|? Governour that the Mallabarr vessell was their prize and requires her speedy delivery or he would invade the Island, to w* the Depi)° Gov!; replyed that it was contrary to all law and justice, and that he could not answere it to his Superiours if he should deliver her up, and as to invading the Island they should make such convenient provision to withstand him, as they judged most necessary, let him come when he would ; and since it is reported he is returned very calmly without atchieving any thing but reproach and shame, being mightely dispised by the Portugalls in general for his rashness.

At their first Comming into yt Port, the Dep*i? Governour sent a boate off to know what she was, but the Mallabarrs would not let them come on board ; then he sent two or three more boates well manned carrying English Collours, w0!1 soe soon as they knew themselves to be under the English protection, they forthwith surrendred, weighed and came nearer under the ffort, where they now remaine ; and thus having advised you the needf ull at present, wee rest

Your very Loving ffreinds,

Suratt, y_< 23'L March 1675-76. GER : AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Wors»r kit

Ofr last unto you was of the Instant, since w°£ wee have received yo!? of the 12*!! and

16'lL March, wherein wee reade the whole story of the late controversy betweene you and the Portugues touching the Mallabarr vessel, & cannot but observe the ridiculous pride and vanity of y% Portugues in threatning and mustering forces for warr on soe light and unjust an occasion, and the seasonable, prudent, and couragious opposition w?h_ you made against them, w£lL as wee doe well commend and approve of, so wee doe declare had you done otherwise, or yielded in the least toyl Portugues in their unjust demands, you would have been brought under severe censure. And therefore wee require you boldly and manfully to oppose all such proud, vaine glorious and malitious attempts w2^ the Portugues may designe against you, returne words with words, designe with designe, violence with violence, embargo with embargo, and let them and all yor_ neighbours know publickly that wee value not their ffreindship nor feare their enmity ; and in regard wee understand that some Padrees were more busy then became them in this affaire in casting out evill slanderous reports to the encouragement of the inhabitants, wee require you to give us a strict accoL what Padrees they were and what they did and particularly of that Jesuite Padree at Parrell, and the Padrees at Mahim, that wee may give such directions as are necessary therein for the preventing the mischeifes they may doe us.

And if you know any of the inhabitants that did seeme to side with the Portugues in this affaire, give us notice of their names, and if any thing of proofe can be made against them wee would have you proceed severely with them.

Wee are sorry for the death of Serg*— Southerland, inhumanly murthered by the Portu- guese in cold blood in their owne countryes. Wee require you still to demand satisfaction and Justice for the sayd murther, and send word to the Padre Superiour of the Colledge of Bandora that seeing the said murther was committed in their Jurisdiction wee expect Justice from them, for such bloody violencyes cannot be put up without satisfaction.

0 Handole, a corruption of the Portuguese word andov, which is a kind of palanquin, u 1255—22

86 SURAT LETTERS.

As to the Mallabarr vessell you must declare to her Commander and officers that they are free to goe and come or dispose of their goods how and where they please ; and by a Publicke Declaration make knowne to all that the Port is free to all ships whatever in amity with His Maj*!^ of Great Brittain, and shall be secured and protected against all violences whatsoever to the utmost of OL. power.

As to the Portugal! vessell, if she desires to ride there amicably she is free as other Nations are, but if they lye there as an espie to watch over the Mallabarr vessell, wee require you not to permitt it, but to give notice to the CapL of the Portugal! vessell to be gone, for you must not endure any thing that may seeme an affront to His Majesti's Porte ; but this you may man- nadge with such prudence and civillity as may not give a disgust, and yett signifie yor_ reso- lution.

"Wee shall give the Company in oL l'res overland an accoi. of y% affaire, what ill neighbour wee have, and that they must expect noe better correspondence with the Portuguese, with whome the lesse you have to doe, or the lesse trade you have to Goa the better ; and give in- structions to all vessells belonging to the Company that if they meet with any Portugall vessells at sea they doe not trust them, nor suffer them to come on board, for wee must expect noe good from them.

Amoung the idle articles made by the Portugues wee observe one is that wee take custome and anchorage on Portugall vessells. Wee desire to know upon what accoL. they make that Com- plaint, for wee understand by letters reel from CapL. Gary, that the Viceroy of Goa complains of it as an Innovation and threatens to make our vessells to pay anchorage at Goa, which before they did not ; wherefore wee desire to be certifyed touching yL. matter that wee may give such directions as are necessary.

Wee heartily lament the Dep*iL Gov5- sicknesse, and pray God restore him to his perfect health, to whose protection wee commend you, and remaine

Your very Loving Freinds,

Swat, 2/1. 27lJL. March 1676. GE* AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

P.S. — Since wee closed the above, wee are given to understand that the Portugues continue their hectoring threats against you, and that the Armada is lately arrived from Goa & that they muster men at Basseen and at Bandora. Wee understand alsoe y*_ the Dep*-!? Govl_ con- tinues very ill and that the people of Bombay are much disheartened, wherefore wee have thought it oL dutyes to take yL. affaire under serious consideration & thereupon seeing the P_r cannot come himselfe in person in respect of this GovE. jealousyes ML Matthew Gray hath freely offered himselfe to serve the CompL. on yL occasion, and in regard the ship ' Returne ' is engaged with yl_ Merchants on Freight and cannot well be taken off, wee have thought good to hire the ship " Happy Rose " for this employment, whome together with the " Revenge," suddenly expected from Persia, we intend to dispeed towards you soe soon as they can be fitted, on whome wee shall send downe all y<L English wee can spare. In the meane time if you are any wayes appre- hensive of further danger or design from the Portugues, or want any thing for the necessary use of yL. Garrison, fayle not speedily to advise thereof.

GE» AUNGIER

Surat, yL 28* March 1676. MATT : GRAY.

CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

SURAT LETTERS. 87

Ml. Thomas Rolt &it.

O.L. Honored Ffreinds,

Wee have wrott you sev^. letters of late by the " Ryhme," '• Revenge " & " Good Neigh- To Pem*. hour," and now shall answer yJL materiall clauses of yoJL lrf* w?J? wee have till now deferred.

By y JL shipp " Returne," wee have consigned to you a considerable stock in fine and coarse cloth of seviL colours as alsoe in sevil goods for presents according to these particulars w0*. you enlisted to us, all amoi_ unto Rup jL 28977 : 38, invoice and bill of lading whereof goes enclosed, whereunto wee referr ; and seeing wee have afforded you such large supplyes of all things you have desired from us, wee doe expect that you will not faile to furnish us alsoe with y JL quantities of Carmania Wooll, Lapis Tutia & c% enordered by the Company to whome it would prove a great sattisfaction if by the sale of y •. Cloth now sent you they might be encouraged to consigne you yJL like quantity yearely, wherefore we pray you faylenotto use yoJL best endeavours therein, and advise us thereof, & you shall be yearely supplyed with yJL quantities and qualities w * you desire.

Wee take notice of yo .1 want of tymber, and would gladly furnish you therewith if wee know how, for noe ships will carry itt, but at excessive rates, such as would make it unreason- ably deare, its prime cost being 50 p. cJL dearer yJL formerly, and therefore wee desire you to supply y *_ defect yJL best you can there.

Wee observe what you write about the Carpetts formerly desired for y JL " Appollo ", and have reason to consider why you make soe great a dificulty of things soe feizable but seeing it is a trouble to you wee shall ease you of it.

Wee have furnished you with Europe wine and other refreshments for yJL Padrees & yo_L selves according to yoJL desires.

And as to John Ffloats slave boy, it was very ill done in CapJl. Clarke to part with him to the Padree3. If you can recover y JL money for him you may, if not you must give John Ffloate creditt for yJL value of him, and charge your accoJL of presents therewith, for it is not reason- able he should suffer.

You write of John Ffloates debt to y •_ Company, but you do not tell us how it hath been contracted nor what it amounts unto nor have wee any of yoJ_ bookes to specifie y JL particulers ; thereof wee can only say yJL it will concerne you to secure y JL Company what you can, for they will not approve of such irregular debts ; what wee received here for his account is sould, and the proceed thereof brought to his credit in our bookes.

Wee observe what you write touching yJL very imprudent carriage of Ml Johnson and Ffeild w£>L tended soe much to yJL prejudice of y_i-Hono!^ Company & Nation, touching wJL* wee called y » here to a severe examination, before the Commanders of yJL Honoy«, CompJl ships and others, and caused Cap_L Clarke, M_L Limbery &£.* Englishmen to deliver their depo- sitions on oath. But they declaring their ignorance thereof as to their owne knowledge, and saying they only heard it from you, and you .alsoe not sending us any other attestations of y JLEng- lish there with you y.*_ were of any weight, and Johnson and Ffeild utterly disavowing whatever you alledged against him, wee durst not undertake any rigorous proceedings against yfL with- out sufficient evidence, but have referred the case home to yJL Company to whome wee have sent yJL charge, together with their answerr, & yJL depositions taken, coppies whereof wee here- with send you, and wee desire that you employ yoJL utmost power & authority to forbid such naughty practices in y i future, for they are of dangerous consequence & ill practice and may

88 SUE AT LETTERS.

tend to y_^_ utter losse of oJLpriv Hedges in yj_ Port. According to yo L_ desire yJLPJLdoth now write to yo r Ckaune & Shawbunder about it expressinghis resentment thereof, and demanding sattisf action, w!* letters we herewith send together with its copy open that upon perusall there- of you may governe yoJL selfe accordingly.

Wee have rec^-noe meane trouble from yJL complaints of Mj[L Young presented us in sevJL. petitions by her brother Lewis Gerverida, touching which wee have had sev u_ meetings, & upon themaine doe conceive yJLyou might have adjusted all those differences without giving us further molestation ; wee have perused yJL particulars of overcharges w°JL you have taken out of Captain Youngs Bookes, which wee now againe returne unto you, for seeing you have rec A. sufficient ord *L from y _?_ Company touching that affaire and are best Judge what charges are to be allowed and what not, wee leave y JL determination thereof wholly to you desiring you to doe Justice to yJL Company as alsoe to y JL widdow and orphans surviving.

Wee now supply you with paper, ink & quills, as much as o_L small stores will admit of.

Wee are sorry for y JLdeath of Leny yJ! Hono¥l Comp ^.Linguist who wee judge was a good servant to them & wee hope that Agga Donde and Issa Ckaun will well supply his place whome wee recommend unto you.

Wee observe what you write about Tockerseys ref usall to make good y •. united stockes demand. According to yo 2L desire wee doe now continue their said demand, & you would have done well to have let us knowne what answer he made you, & what he hath to say in his owne vindication, for it is not enough barely to deny, but he ought to give in answer to every article, w_£)l if he hath not done you will doe well to press him unto it, that these worthy gentlemen concerned may be y JL_ better sattisf yed with y_£ proceeding.

Ml Samuell Carleton Chyrurgeon hath made his applications to us for seviL months pay due to him, w_£>L he sayth was retained by you upon y e apprehensions of some unkindnesse you thought good to conceive against him, as if he were a sider or partaker in the irregularities of CapjL Young of wcl;. he declares himself totally innocent ; & that he hath and ever had a true honour & respect for you & to yJL utmost of his power did serve you in yo_L voyage outward bound and since in your dangerous sickness, & never was wanting to doe his duty in obedience to such commands as you thought good to lay upon him. He much laments his hard fortune y.L notwithstanding all his labours and services you should take soe severe a displeasure against him ; he hath therefore desired us to intercede with you that he may againe be readmitted into yo f_ favour and yJL Companys service there, for w^.he was appointed by yJLComp^ generall order at 50 R*L per month as appeares by the clauses of their Gen 'L. letters herewith sent you. Now seeing that y *L. said Doctor Carle- ton doth soe earnestly desire yoJL excuse for what is past, & doth solemnly promise to behave himselfe to yoJL consent hereafter, and seeing the CompJL have continued him in their service, and that he was chosen for yoJL factory, and that noe other Chyrurgeon can be procured, wee have thought good to recommend him againe unto you, and desire that you would receive him into yJL Comp^!_ service, and make good his wages to him from y±.tirae of his first entrance at 50 R_L per month ; for during y JLtime of his continuance here he hath been always serviceable either in Surat, Bombay or Rojapore ; for to such persons who have noe livelyhood to depend upon but their wages it is not allowable by Law or Justice to detaine them from it provided they doe performe their dutyes to y_?_ best of their abilities of y JL failure whereof wee doe not re- member that ever you complained ; and as to other faylings or indiscreet heats it will become yo L prudence & charity on his submission to passe them by, wch^ alsoe wee shall take kindly from you if you receive him affectionately into yoJL favour upon o r. recommendation.

SUJIAT LETTERS. 89

In a former letter wee advised you y _*, in obedience to yJL Compy. express orders wee have appointed ILL James Adames to assist as second in their Ffactory of Persia who now takes his passage on ship " Returne," and wee desire you to receive him in said quality & to deliver the Comp ™ bookes unto him ; wee have alsoe appointed MjLSamuell Darnelly to be third, and would have Mjl James Adames and him to signe the Qen 1L letters and have cognizance of all their affaires it being their expresse order, and seeing there will offer little buisnesse in Persia this yeare, & y JLship " Returne " being bound to Bussorah with {freight goods and will require an able person for y cr mannadgement of yJL affaire, wee have thought good to appoint Ml James Adames for that service & at his returne from Bussorah to stay at Gombroone as before. We desire you to furnish him with all things necessary for his voyage and stay at Bussorah with bridle and sadle, semeanoes, canatts, what disbursements are made thereon must be charged to yJL. ships acco.*..

Wee have endeavored to procure some old ffashion silver lace for yJL Ckaune of Larr but none could be found in all y JL towns, if any can be got by yJL next ships it shall be sent you.

The " Sied Pore" Merchant hath stole away without taking oJL passe, w°_!l is a slight and disrespect wee shall not admitt off ; wee therefore desire that in case any of o JL ships be in Port when she is there y_*. you order some Englishmen to make a pretended seasure of her, & threaten to make her a prize ; but upon their submission, and acknowledgemjL of their ffault, you must surrender her againe, and take care that noe damadge in the least be done' unto her by oJL men. This wee designe onely to preserve o JL repute & respect with these Merchants, who otherwise will neglect & grow bold and despise oJL nation and the Comp^. authority.

According to yoJL desire wee have examined the bales of Carmania wooll sent yJL. yeare & found amoungst them parcells to be black wooll wit in comply ance to y JL directions wee have marked R, but wee were at a great losse how to invoice them as well as yJL others, you having not sent us any invoice of either, w?Jl wee doe not a little wonder at, & y JL Company cannot be well pleased with such omissions, nor can they or wee approve of yo JL. neglect in not sending us the bookes of your ffactory. It is now 4 yeares since wee received any from you and there- fore wee desire you not to fayle to send us yo JL. accounts by y JL_ first ships ; the excuse you make for want of Paper is noe wayes to be admitted off, for surely you might have been supplyed for yo JLmony at y JL. Dutch house or y JL Ffrench, for yoJLbookes are but a small bulke, & will not require much. Wee are frequently disappointed of Paper from the Company but should be ashamed to make that a pretence not to send home their bookes of accoJd. Wee are neces- sitated to mind you of y JL particular in regard the Company doth severely chide us when they have not the bookes of each ffactory yearely sent home, wherefore wee desire you not to fayle U3 hereafter.

The Hono^i Company have enordered us to send some 400 bales of Carmania and have ordered it to be picked very cleane & well packed, wf*L wee desire you to provide and send us by ship "Returne" or " Selymony," for wee shall want that full quantity for y±. lading of oJL ships home for England, and therefore doe expect that you will not fayle us therein.

The Hono^li Company having strictly required of us to send o_L. opinions touching the present state of their affaires in Persia, & to propose some meanes whereby the King of Persia may be brought to allow a more equall share of yJLcustomes of Gombroone to them, wee have thought good to communicate to yj* oJL Judgement, thereof in a paper, w^. wee have sent them by the last shipps, copy whereof wee herewith send for yoJL perusall, & wee desire that you will afford us yo_l sence, whether or noe what wee have proposed be practicable or noe, or any wayes prejudicial to yJL Hono^? Company. 9 1255—23

90

SUBAT LETTERS.

In case that yJL " Selymony " or " Returne " should not returne from Bussorah timely enough to bring the Compif. wool to be laden for England on y JL yeares expected Fleet, yJL wee would have you send it on y_l first ship that presents for yl_ port the beginning of next Moonsoon.

Wee are at present in greate want of horses having disposed of ojl 2 best to yJL Gover- nour. Wee therefore doe desire you to provide & send by yJL returne of y JL ship 5 very good horses as well for presents to yJL Gov J_ and others as for oJL owne use.

Wee had once contracted a bargaine with some Armenians here for all yjL Comp|5 perpe- tuannaes to be delivered in Gombroone free of all charges, but since they have broke off wee desire you to satisfy us whether they are in request in Persia and whether you would have us send you any, & upon rec J_ thereof wee shall supply you with what quantities, & colours you desire.

The enclosed Gen £_ to y L. Hono^* Company wee desire you after perusall to send forward to yiLConsull of Aleppo, together with yJL list of Europe commodities vendable here, com- mending them to his particuler care for furtherance ; soe committing you to y4 Almighties protection wee remaine

Swally Marine, yjL 7th Aprill 1676.

Yo£_ very Affectionate Ffreinds, GR AUNGIER. MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

May it please your Honours,

To the Company. The above is copy of or_ Last unto you overland. On the 8^_ Ffebruary wee received yo{! of

the 21^ July rejoicing much to understand yJL. arrival! of Ships " Mary" and " Ffaulcon".

Wee doe punctually observe yoL. ord™ soe far as in us lyes in y • disposall of yo"\ goods to your best advantage and clearing of yoL. engagements, in w^!l two good workes wee are most seriously and industriously disposed, having already cleared yoL. warehouses of the most part of yoL Europe goods, & hope wee shall have but little left on 6L hands at yl arrivall of yoL next ships. It only troubles us y* y*. prices are not soe incouraging as wee could desire but wee must herein governe oL selves according to yi_ necesities of y<LMarketts. We have alsoe cleared off a great part of yo1"- debts soe far as oL stock would goe, for though y!L cargo you sent out was very large and gained you greate repute and would be sufficient to cleare of yoL debts, yet there would not be any thing left to begin yoL new investment, w^h requiring ready money in all yoL ffactories without w^L not a peece of goods can be bought, doth inforce necessity of continuing some part of yoL_ debt, wSh. if it were once totally cleared, and that you had a stock before hand in the country to be impressed on goods, without doubt it would prove an unspeake- able advantage to you, accordingly inrich yor_ trade by advanceing y f_ prices of Europe goods and abasing those of India, and consequently cause you more frequent and large dividends.

The advice you give us touching Cocheneale (wherein you are pleased to promise that none shall come out for yoL. owne accolL or for any particuler men) arrived to us very seasonably, for we were much disheartened with the quantity that lay upon oLhands and taken up resolutions to sell off some part of it at yt. market price which was 12 Rupees per double seer, and y?^

SURAT LETTERS. 91

rather in regard wee found it subject to damage ; but upon rec*. of yo!, letters wee resolved to hold up yi, price and not to sell it till it was raised to 20 R*_ the double seer, w^is already come to 18, & wee doubt not but wee shall attaine oL designe therein. Had wee not soe great a quantity as wee have upon or- hands, wee would raise it to 30, & if it be possible for yo^,. Hono^L to keepe yi commodity to yo";rselves wee make noe doubt but to render it proffitable unto you.

Small gunns from 12 15s wa*L & under, doe usually sell for profit more or lesse according to yl. quantity, & if you add a 5^. part for 20^ w**L to 12 it will not doe amisse ; but as for anchors we humbly conceive that seeing you are pleased to gratify yl-. commanders of ships with lycence to bring them out, it were better that you send none for yol account, yl price thereof being thereby fallen and little profit to be expected by that commodity.

Your Agent and Councell at Bantam, doe declare that you may notexpect advantage by yLtrade soe long as y^ King of Bantam & yl. Merchants of Surat are engaged therein, w££_ they seemed to prosecute ; wee therefore humbly propose to yoL. Hono™_ that if you shall thinke good not to be concerned yoL_ selves, you would please to grant a Gen1! liberty to yl English, and all other inhabitants of yl. Island Bombay to trade not onely to Bantam, but to all ports in the South seas, provided they returne with their shipps and cargoes to Bombay, and there pay you custome for their whole cargoes. And afterwards what they cannot dispose of at Bombay,they may be free to transport where they please. Yi_ will be a means to encourage trade, advance yoL customes & supply the Island with copper for the mint, and in time also with other goods propper for England wcJl wee referr to yor_. consideration.

Wee shall observe yor_ orders touching saltpeter and other kintaledge goods nor deviate therefrom, entreating yoL. Honrl to pardon wL is past, seeing it was dessigned whoUy for your advantage.

Wee observe your directions touching the callecoes and find wee did not at first rightly understand your meaning, w5^ wee now doe, & shall conforme accordingly to yl. best of our power ; wee note alsoe yl_ sev!1. alterations w°iL you are pleased to make in yoL. investments for yl. yeare, & have given oL_ directions to y£_ sevlL ff actoryes accordingly.

Your ships " Revenge" and " Hunter" are imployed in freight to Persia & Muscatt, yo!l «• Returne" is now bound with freight goods to Persia & Bussorah, & though y • freights are miserably low by reason of yl. number of ships in Surat yet it will helpe to beare her charge ; y^ ketch " Phenix" is sent downe yl Mallabar Coast, with additional stocks to those ffac- tories, and to bring up some goods remaining at Carwarr in regard it is not safe to let y"?L lye there by reason of yl. dangerous times ; yoL. ship " Mayboome" was designed alsoe on ffreight, but notwithstanding some charges had been layed out upon her last yeare at Rajapore she proves in soe very bad condition that she must be totally broke up y?_ winter.

Your Deputy Govr_. and Councell of Bombay in Ff ebruary last, did make sale of yl_ Publike rents of yol_ Island at yl_ following prices : —

Last yeare

The Tobacco Licence ... ... 20300 sould yB_ yeare for Zer » 20400

The Arrack Licence ... ... 5050 sould yl yeare for „ 5340

Mahim Passage ... ... 850 sould y"_ yeare for „ 690

Syon Passage ... ... 360 sould y!_ yeare for „ 300

• The Customes ... ... 31050 sould y_ yeare for „ 2700

Rende Verde, a new monoply, sould for ... „ 1600

92 SUB AT LETTERS.

The new Rent called "Rende verde " consists of Oyle, Opium, Bange, and Mowra. Noe person except yL. farmer being permitted to retaile under a maund, it will in time wee hope prove a good addition to yi Revenues yfL Merchants and all other being well satisfyed therewith.

The last l'res wee rec^.. from Bombay advice of a bold bravado made by the Portuguez against us and a breach of peace like to fall out thereupon. The occasion was thus : A vessel belonging to yl Coast Mallabarr laden with coconutts & coire bound to Broach off Diu incountred a Portugall man of warr, with whome she fought foure days, and having a Passport from yoL Cheife and Ffactors at Callecutt she run into the Port of Bombay for protection, yL_ Portugall vessell still chasing of her into the very porte. The Deputie Governour having sent out boates to know what ships they were, and understanding the Mallabarr vessell had an Eng- lish passe, and was a Merchant vessell and noe pirate, ordered her to come under the Ffort for the tide had had hauled her over towards Caranjee side. YL. CapL of yL. Portuguez ffrigatt imediately posts to Basseen and acquaints Bmanoell de Saldanha Captain of the North of what happened, who in a fury, without examining further, summons all the Ffidalgoes and forpe under his Jurisdiction, and having sent about 1200 men by land and about 300 men by sea, comes in person to Bandora, publikely declaring his Resolution to take Mahim and burne and destroy yL_ rest of your Island Bombay, if the said Mallabarr vessell were not Immediately delivered up into his possession. It happened at his comming to Bandora 3 English being there by accident, not knowing what had passed, one was inhumanly murthered by them in cold blood ; yL CapL GenL after some letters sends over 3 Ffidalgoes, who publiquely made sev!L demands, whereof the 2 materiall were the surrender of ye said vessell and the surrender of Mahim up to yL. Portu- guez otherwise hee must expect what would follow. It happened that yoL Dep-'i? GovL. Ml_ Philip Gyffard was yL very ill, confined to his bed ; but he immediately sent Ml. John Pettit with the rest of yL Councell, one of the Garrison Companyes, and all the Militia that could be raised to ye number of 5 or 600 men with 5 feildpeeces and necessary ammunition who marched in good order to Mahim to oppose what violence yL Capi_ GenlL should attempt. Five days pass- ed in hot expostulation on both sides, at length yL.CapL_Generall & y?_Ffidalgoes being convinced of yL Justice and Honor of oL. proceedings and seeing oL. resolution, they let fall^their demand, with this salvo only, that the matters should be referred to the Vice Roy and the Pi_; yL the Portugall Vessell might have lycence to anchor under the ffort of Bombay till ordL should come from the Vice Roy ; whereupon both parties retired for yL_ present, but yL Portuguez Cap!.. Gen^- and yL Ffidalgoes generally did give out such haughty and bloody speeches against us with such rancor & contempt of yoL HonoL.and the Nation that it seemes to us they have some very evill designe and want only an opportunity to doe us mischeife ; but wee doe little feare them, & seeing they are apt to quarell without reason it seemes to us consistent with yoL. great wisedom to provide for the worst. If the Islands of Salset & Caranja do belong to yoL Hono"? by vertue of his Ma*!! title it would be noe difficult matter to possess yor_selves of them and they are worth the seeking, for the Revenue of those 2 Islands improved as now Bombay is, would by relation amol_ to ten times the value that the Revenue of Bombay now amounts to and would alsoe cause very great advantages to yoL_ trade.

Wee know not yet how yL_ present dispute will end ; what violent resolutions the Vice Roy of Goa may take through ye misinformation of those of Basseen, for he alsoe is a declared enemy to yoL, Honors &cJl Nations Interest in these parts. But as wee shall offer noe injury, soe wee shall take care to preserve yoL- Honor and estate to yL_ utmost of our power from all violence, and attend yoL_ future orders for yoL. Government. And that wee may not be wanting to oL dutyes, seeing the President cannot goe in person, wee have determined if need require to send downe Mr__ Matthew Gray, who freely offers himselfe to yL. service, together with all the EngL

SURAT LETTERS. 93

wee can spare ; and y°- "Returne" being engaged to yL_ merchants on ffreight wee shall hire the " Happy Rose" belonging to the President &!L to carry them downe, but wee trust there will be noe necessity for itt.

The report still continues of Sevajees death, but yet it is much doubted ; he was poysoned by his barber, and for a long time hath not appeared abroad, but his army hath lately robbed a considerable Mart towne in Decan called Kanttanee nere Raybag, where wee here some of yor_ Estate is plundered but doe not yet know the certainty thereof . He holds a very faire understanding with yoE_ Island Bombay and all offices of ffreindship passe betweene them.

By letters lately rec<j. from Ffort S*_ George wee understand that your ships are all despatched from thence.

The " Ann" the 28* January.

The "Happy Successe" & "Samuell" & "Henry," the Seccond Ffebruary.

The " Loyall Subject" & " Unity" the 3E* ditto.

They write alsoe that the King of Golcandah and his Nobles was aboard yoE_ ships in Metchlepatam road highly sattisfied with his treatment, and that he was expected alsoe at Ffort SI George.

By letters lately received from Goa wee are advised yL a ship from Maccoo lately imported there brings certaine intelhgence that the long-haired Chineses under the command of Coxim are engaged in a sharpe warr against the Tartarrs & have recovered 5 Provinces in China. They advice alsoe that yL King of Candy hath raised a great army against the Dutch in Zelon, y*. they have killed them a great many men, & taken from them some castles, the truth whereof wee shall know hereafter.

Having reci. from Sevajee his cole or pass port, for security of yL ffactory of Dangom, wee have thought good to resettle the ffactory again, being very necessary of yoE. investment ; whither wee have sent ME Samuell Austen together with ML Keek and Me. Snape, who we hope will doe you very good service there.

In the " Massingbirds " cargo we find an errour of one bale of Niccanees laden on her not marked, neither mentioned in her invoice or bill of lading, w* wee entreate yoL HonoE! to give us credit for, 1 Qi. 6 Gorge at 25 Rupees per Corge amounts to 150 Rup" _

Wee are now fully assured of Sevagees perfect Recovery and that he hath been abroad with his Armys & plundered Hanttannee (as Report speaks) 300000 Pag?i where yor_ HonoE! have been some small sufferers viz^ 16 PL. Broad Cloth,19 PL. Perpetuanoes & 8 Pi_Sorges. The ffac- tories of Carwarr and Rojapur by reason of these troubles are very insecure; we have thoughts if these warrs continue, to withdraw one or both of them, but wee hope for better times w£j? God send.

And yL is what wee call to mind at present, except the Presentation of oL most humble services as being

Your Hon!L most humble Servants, Swally Marine, y%, 7* Aprill 1676. GER. AUNG1ER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBERLAN.

b 1255—24

94

SUBAT LETTERS.

WorsJI &». T o Bombay. Yours of the 25^ March by the " Shibarrs" with watermellons wee have received, but whereas

you write to have laden 400 there is come to o~L hands not above 200, and the Tyndall declares there was not 300 laden at ffirst.

Upon the " Shibarrs" arrivall here the Tyndall gave out that the Portuguez were come downe to Bandora againe with 1000 men withffresh resolutions to swarme Mahim. In regard that you had put an Embargo on the Portugall Ff rigat that rid in the roade this causes in us some trouble & doubts of yoJL. welfare, but you not writing any thing about it, wee would give but little creditt thereto, and since wee have received yoJL Postcript by the Carwarr expresses, yet not confirming his fabulous report, wee judge y_? Island in peace and quietn esse and yJL Portuguez ashamed of what they have already acted, and that they will hardly presume to disturbe you any more ; wherefore wee desire you to examine him strictly, what grounds he had to build these reports upon, & if you find them raised through malice or evill intentions to punish him severely for his calumny.

We have already given you o_L directions which wee againe confirme, that seeing the mon- soone is soe far spent that wee cannot thinke of building any Ffort or Bulworkes at Mahim, yet if you are any wayes apprehensive of danger from the Portuguez or others, you may build a strong breast worke of toddy trees and durt, which will be of sufficient fforce to withstand all their attempts.

Wee note what you write concerning the " Mayboome" and desire to know what the Merchants bid for her & whether they would buy only her hull or her gunns, Anchorrs &EL, when wee shall give o_L orders accordingly.

Wee are glad to heare the Dep1^ GovJL. is upon recovery and pray God to restore him to his former health ; soe committing to the Almighties protection, wee remaine

YoJL very Loving Friends, Swally Marine, y%. 7%. April 1676. GrE 5_ AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

WorspJL &&.

To Bombay. 0-£ la9^ un^° you was ^Y *ne Garwarr Peons w^ were dispatcht away yesterday when wee

received yo£i of the 5^ Aprill, to which wee give now yJL speedy answere, being unwilling to keepe yoJL Pattamarr longer by us.

Wee perceive the Portuguez bravado is passed over with an impertinent protest which wee presume was done only in point honoj; to salve the Capi_ Generalls credit, for had they any sufficient or just cause of complaint they would have delivered their protest in writing & not by word of mouth, but you have not done amiss to answer it as you did ; we presume they will be wiser, and understand themselves better hereafter. In the meantime if you have raised any men (of which you give us noe accoJL though wee heare you have) wee require you imme- diately to discharge them and not put the Company to any needless expence.

Wee are sorry the Siddyes ffleet is come againe to trouble yoJL Porte; the GovJL of Surat hath not made applications to us in the least, concerning its wintering there ; if he doth presse very earnestly and will not be denyed, wee must governe oJLselves the best wee can for the

SURAT LETTERS. 95

Comp-?? Interest ; in the meane time wee require you possitively and in plaine terms to declare to the Siddy that you will not permitt his wintering there ; and if he talks of staying at Bombay or at Mazagon, you must tell him that it shall never be permitted, seeing he and his men have already been soe chargeable to the Island, nor is he a person to be trusted on shore 5 and therefore if he doth desire it you must not grant it, except you are sure he will goe on board againe in a day or two time, nor must you suffer his men to goe ashore armed, or too many at a time, for the preventing of any mischeife that may ensue. However, wee would have you be very civill in your discourses and arguments to the Siddy & all the officers, representing the unreasonableness of their requests, the trouble w?t wee have already sustained & the evill con- sequences that may follow, & fayle not to supply them with what they may want, wood, water, & provisions, and let them have noe just complaint against you in that manner, but suffer none of their vessells to hale on shore by any meanes if you can prevent it. This ordl. wee would have you resolutely and strictly to observe till you heare further from us, for wee know not yet how things will goe being at Swally, but intend tomorrow for Surat, where wee shall understand more of the Gov£i mind, whome wee will dissuade by the best arguments wee can from desiring the Siddyes ffleet to winter there ; but if he will not be otherwise sattisfyed we shall in few dayes send you such directions as shall be necessary for yol future Government.

Wee gladly understand that the Dep*i? GovL. is some what recovered of his late dangerous distemper & pray God restore him to his perfect health. Wee remaine

Your very Loving Freinds, Swally Marine, y»_ Ulh April 1676. GE« AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

WorsAL &«.

Ol. Respected ffreinds,

Ml John Fflatman now going for Bombay, wee write you these few lines to accompany To BombaJ- him. He hath made earnest applications to us for the advancing of his salary to 3£ per month, and allowing of him his dyett and lodging out of the Fort, in regard his constant imployment with his patients will not admitt his taking of it there. But though wee have regard to his meritts, good service, and dilligence in his imployment, yet wee have not thought good to gratifie his request, partly because wee held it inconvenient to encourage any persons belong- ing to the Island to make their addresses hither, for thereby men are apt to forget their re- spect and dependance they ought to have on the Depi!5 Govrr and Councell, w:± by noe meanes wee shall admitt off, and partly in regard oL. affaires here will not give us leave to be troubled with such impertinencies, nor did wee care to innovate any thing as to wages or increase of charge least it produce evill consequencies. On these considerations wee have suspended Doctor Fflat- mans request, and referr it wholy to you, wcJ) being modest you may grant, seeing you are sat- tisfyed with us that he well deserves oL. favour ; but we would have you give noe incouragement to persons to come hither hereafter ; but if they have any reasonable request to make, let them first signifie them to you, and if you judge them worthy of or_ knowledge you may communi- cate them to us.

To this day the Govr_ of Surat hath not applyed himselfe in the least to us touching the wintering of the Siddies ffleet, wherefore wee would have you continue to prosecute 0% former

96 SURAT LETTERS.

directions, and not permitt them to winter there, and be caref ull that you be not overcome with their subtilities, w£^ is all at present from

Your very Loving ffreinds, Surat, yl. 21% Aprill 1676. GER, AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES' JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Inclosed is sent you oL. Journall parcells as you stand charged in oL books for wL retfL out of the Europe ships.

Worshipp1*. &c^

To Bombay. Wee are in answer to yoT2 of yL. 21?^ June wcJl brought us yl petition from yL widdow of

Judge Wilcox decl. We have taken her request into our consideration and bearing due regard to her husbands meritts and her sadd condition at present, wee have thought good to gratify her desires and would have you pay unto her y* ballance of yl acco!L being 838 Xs. 0 ta. 37 res. taking her reel for ye_ same, and lett yL. former debt of 744 Xs. 0 ta. 40 res. wsli he reck- on ace*!, of salary be still continued in the books till yL Comp^L order be further knowne therein.

Wee observe w*_ past in yoL last sessions and are sorry y*_. Capl. Garys sonn should be guilty of such a misdemeanour. We approve wL. you have done therein.

Sevajees Army under y£_ Command of Mora Punditt having taken Pindolle from yL. Rajah of Ramnagur (w<^L is a considerable castle about 3 dayes Journey from Surat) ye_ GenL. having left about 4000 men to defend itt, went back to Raire Sundergee Pervooe finds but a could reception here, wciL makes him threaten hard and foretell yL. miseryes of plunder and desolation to yL. citty. Wee desire you to have an eye to yL proceedings of Sevajees Army, soe soon as they come out of their quarters, and if you have yL. least intelligence of their motion yL. way, faile not speedily to advice us per expresse.

Wee take notice of y± two Englishmen taken prisoners at Burgurah, touching whose release wee shall write in oL next letters.

Wee have perused y± rolls you sent us of yo*. Garrison Comply Militia and Staffe officers ; and wee have alsoe againe taken into consideration y± answere to those seven proposalls formerly recommended unto you ; and in yiL maine wee find yl. you have not observed those orders left with you by yL President at his departure for retrenching yS. chai-ges, but yl you sent yiL Company to a farr greater expence yiL need requires. Wee find in your letter to Com- pany, yl you have neere 400 men officers included. Wee cannot conceive what necessity there is now (o*. nation being in Peace with all yl world) of keeping soe many men in pay ; wee are sure the Company will not admitt itt ; but rather be much offended with us for oi improvident mannadgement of their affaires. In oJL proposalls sent you in February last wee advised you that wee thought 16 ffiles was enough for each Company, & though some reasons wi^L you give in yoJL answere doe convince us yl that number is too little (as things stand now with you), yett surely wee must needs conclude y* 30 ffiles for each Company are too many, wherefore for y«_ pre- sent wee doe enorder you y * fro' and after y i. musters yl shall follow y_l receiving y • oJ_ letter you doe reduce yol_ two Companys to 150 men each Company (w^. is y± number specifyed in yo £_ answer to o L. proposalls). Wee say yl. y L said two Companys doe not exceed 300 men officers included, and wee heartily wish they might consist all of English, but seeing

SURAT LETTERS. 97

yi cannot be, wee would have you to supply y_L rest with Topasses, for as to y£. middle sort consisting of European strangers, wee are not well sattisfyed with y™, and here after would not have you entertaine any more under y_L notion ; and as to those will are at present in pay wee would have you disband y ™, keeping only such of y» who have served y^. Company 5 yeares and are married on the Island, whonie wee would have you continue in their present pay, and the rest to be discharged, except they will serve as Topasses, and wee desire you to send us a list of such men who have served y± Company 5 yeares and upwards.

Wee shall now give you oJL opinions touching those reasons you offer to us in answer to oL proposall for the keeping soe many men in pay. First, whereas you say there is a necessity for jri keeping 80 or 100 men in pay extraordinary, for y_£_ manning yJL Compal vessells and shibarrs as alsoe Merchants vessells, wee answere yJL wee know noe such necessity, nor 6hall by any meanes admitt itt. As to y.1 Companys vessells to witt yiL "Revenge "and" Hunter" and Ketch & £, what men are hereafter employed upon y ™ lett their pay be charged to acco % of those voyages for w^± they are sent ; and when they are empty in cruising out and defending yJL Port against yJL Mallabarrs, you may well draw of soe many men as shall be necessary for yJL expedition, out of the two Companys, without increase of charges ; and as to supplying merchants vessells with o L. men, wee require you forbeare any such practice hereafter, except they will make good their pay and provision for yJL time they doe entertaine yJEl ; and if the Merchil doe complaine and cease from trade wee know noe remedy, for it is a thing never practiced in any nation or port whatsoever. And as to y?_Mallabars disturbing yo 2. trade, you must take care to secure yol. owne ports from y™ , and to send out y±."Revenge" and "Hun- ter" frequently to cruise out after y™. and to goe in convoy with such vessels as shall desire itt, but to lett out o_L owne men to man y± Merchants ships wee cann noe wayes answere itt except they beare the whole charge. Secondly, whereas you say that Sevajee and the Siddys men are often unwellcome guests to you, y*^ they are morose and surly, ready to act some mischeife, wee answere yJL wee would not have you possesse yoILselves with any apprehen- sion or feare from yJD, for wee know they dare not attempt any publike breach of peace with us, and though disorder doe frequently happen from their unruly souldiers, yett wee ever found their officers civill and orderly, and ready to punish such disorders in their men, wherefore y*. is noe argument to put the Company to more charge, but in such case wJLever any of Sevajees or y<L Siddys men are on the island, w* is but seldom, yoJL care y.* must be to keepe a stricter watch yJL ordinary, and not to suffer y ™ to ware their armes, but to secure all their amies in y ?_ fort, and then you need little feare w_L mischeif they are able to doe. Thirdly, whereas you alleige yoJL feare of yJL Portugue, though they barke frequently, yett wee know they dare not bite, wee little concerne o_L selves for anything they dare doe, and wish they would beginn to quarrell. Fourthly, what you alleige as to yJL. building yo_L Bastion is a just and sound argument, for till yi. Bastion be finished and yJL two home works alsoe raised to a convenient height, joyned by a line to yJL fort, it cannott be soe secure as itt should bee, and therefore therewithe a necessity of keeping 300 men in pay, and indeed y_" is yJL only argument w^ perswades us to maintain soe many men, wherefore wee desire you to imploy all diligence possible for y •. finishing said worke especially y %. Bastion and y •. Parapett to the fausse braye, both wc^ are absolutely necessary, and wee hope y_L by yo I care they will be soon reduced to a very defencible posture. Fifthly, w t.you say touching y i_ Portugall souldiers, who have land on yJL Island, and are apt to sell it when disbanded, to Moores. Banians &ii, y_*_is noe argument in yiL least to keepe more men in pay yj*, need requires ; if they are not contented to stay, lett yiL sell their land and goe where they will, but wee require you to take care that noe Moores be admitted to buy land according as yJL President formerly hinted, but Christians,

b 1255—25

98 SURAT LETTERS.

Hindoos and Parsees are free, and you need not feare y,*. wee shall want men and good souldiers too whenever wee shall have occasion of them. Y_£_ last argument touching the sickness of yo-A. men, is too apparent to o2L great greife. But wee trust in God when quar- ters are built for yJJ in the two Home works, as wee designe, and an Hospitall is alsoe built for yA_ sick men, they will, by Gods blessing, be kept in better health, to which end wee desire you to take y £_ first opportunity y _* presents for the raising an Hospitall and finishing y_° said two Home works, y_l wee may the sooner prevent those sicknesses yl_ oJL people are soe much subject unto. There are se^[ other things w£^ wee judge are unnecessary charges in yoji rolle of staffe officers, and Militia, w^ wee reserve for another opportunity, in regard wee are unwilling to detaine y_L cossett any longer ; but commending you to y A. Almighties protection, wee remain

Your very loving Freinds,

Surat, yl. 4th July 1676. GER. AUNGIER.

MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

P.S.— The President having a desire to build a street of houses on Bombay reaching from Judge Niccolls house to yJL water side, & having caused yJL ground to]bs vallewed amounting to about 600 Seraphins doth desire you to buy the said ground of the owner on y_? Companys acco **, and to lett a lease of itt to him for 61 yeares according to y*. Comp5i order, and when you have delivered him y JL. said lease, he will then take immediate orders for building y j; said street, but if you judge it any wayes inconvenient to yA.Company to buy the said ground for their acco4?> then he desires you y * you would buy the said ground for his owne acco** , causing y *_ writing to be firmely established by the law, y A he may have a suffitient title thereunto, desiring yoIL answer by the next cossett.

Here are wanting in a*. Register y •. books of Acco?!! of the Island from y A. 30^ June 1671, w2L pray take care to send us, and alsoe yi yeares in double coppies, soe soon as you can finish y™, one paire whereof to be sent for England.

Worshipfull &ci. To Bombay Wee reade yo L answer touching yl. 5 vessels sent to Rajapore ; but at present doe not

reply till wee have also rec^ w.» M' Child hath to say in yi. dispute.

Wee like well of your proposition of making the present Court of Judicature an Hospitall, & y!_ DeptiA Govli and Mi Petti ts house for yA. Court of Judicature, but would be further sattisfyed how they mean by sparing their house toyl. Company ; whether they designe renting it annually to ylL, or selling it out right, if y±. first then w^ rent they demand for wee would not put yl. Compy. to too great a charge, if yl- latter, then how they will oblidge themselves to y-l- CompJL for yl_ money they have reciL on account of their arrears of sallary (for at present wee looke upon the house as sufficient security, wl^ is alsoe agreeable to yA Compai_

SURAT LETTERS. 99

order) ; but let y JL house be valued by any indifferent persons and y • valuation thereof sent ua and y_n_ wee shall be able to give a more definitive answer. In the interim wee remain

Your very affectionate Freinds,

Surat, yJ 19th July 1676. GER. AUNGIER.

MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Worshipfull, ScSl. Good Freinds,

Wee are now with yoJL of yi_ 30th July in answere to ours of y_£ 41j!, 61^ and 11th. of said T° Bombay, month, and doe approve in yJL maine of y_L. reasons you give us for y±. number and increase of your Garrison souldiers, by yo_L taking y.?_ seamen into yo '. Rolls, wcA otherwise would have layen all yJL winter idle, & at a great charge, & yo.f.. initiating jB into military descipline ashore, & introducing a familiarity betweene yi?. and yJL souldiers wfjl is prudently done.

As to what you desire to be directed as to yJL increase of yoJ souldiers, or w * . Super- numeraries you shall keep in case of mortality to keep up yoJL limited number of 300, wee answere y_*- wee would have you keepe yo_£_ full complement of 300 men, besides w_*- fresh souldiers yJL ships may bring out, and for a supply in case of mortality, if you keepe 2 or 3 files extraordinary, wee shall admitt of itt, and in regard mortality reigns most amongst the new souldiers, the first 2 or 3 months of their arrivall on yJL Island, occasioned cheifly by their immoderate drinking of punch and toddy, to prevent w_cJl wee would have you immediately upon their arrivall to send us up 5 or 6 files of y™ with a Serjant, to defend y_^_ Hono^ Compel estate, for wee have great cause to expect great troubles and danger soe soon as yJL raines are over, and ylf. will be a meanes to preserve y ™. and inure them to yJL climate, and although they may not be disciplined souldiers, yet being Eng_f. men, they will serve us here.

Wee wonder you have not heard of late from Narran Sunay about his negotiation with Sevajee and his recovery of these debts. His last advices to y c_ P rr gave him hopes of a speedy conclusion with him, but there is a great distance between faire words & faire pay- ments ; soe soon as the season will permitt, wee have thoughts of sending up a fitter person on that imploy, if before it be not ended.

Wee are sorry for yJL death of Cap.*. Ustick, & shall take care to supply and settle y± Councell wf wee have perused y_l Hono!^ Compel, l.res by their expected shipping; in y_°. meane time wee shall not need to question yo_L care of y % Island in all respects. Wee have long expected to heare from oJL freinds at Ffort Si George of yJL arrivall of their ffleet from England but hitherto noe news.

Praised be God, yJL Pr±. is in a manner well recovered of his fflux, but weakness & great paine in his knees doth yet confine him to his bed. Y^ juice of tobacco you are in want of is not here procurable at yj_ season of y£, yeare, but wee have by yL. bearer sent you 7 seers of China roots. As yi. w *. wee call to mind at present, soe remaine

Your Very Loving Freinds, Surat, ?/_! 14th August 1676. GER. AUNGIER.

MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

100 SURAT LETTERS.

Worshipfull, &°.

To Bombay Yesterday in y_L. afternoone wee recJL yours of y _f_ 14th August W* one of yJ 9^1 Ditto

not signed, w?ji. as it lyes first in oil way, wee give answer to.

Wee reade the ill success of Narran Sunays negotiation with Sevajee and that you have sent Lief A- Richard Adames to make demand of his debt ; wee wish him better successe, but should rather have approved of yoJL sending Cap * Adderton as a person more fitt for y_* imployment.

Wee reade the valuation you have made of y_* Dep^ii. Gov" liouse, v?c}\ you have thought fitt for y •. Coui't of Judicature, but wee doe not see there will be any occasion for y_» garden and y ?. ground adjoyning, and therefore wee desire that yJL. house by itselfe may be valued, w?£_ is all y * wee have in answere to y *L letter.

Wee are now to give thanks to Almighty God for y_f safe and seasonable arrival! of y _?m Honolili Compy_ 5 ships to their Island Bombay yl_ 13th cuitA. Yj, Hono'i% Comp^f letter, with an abstract of y£_ sevJL ships Cargoes, wee have rec'L, & observe very well y±- they had selected a great quantities of goods to be disposed off on their Island, wS^ wee have had under consideration, & finding soe great a quantity of cloth come out yJL yeare more y jL. wee can expect to vend here, wee have concluded yi_ y^_ 198 bales consigned to y • Island in y* ships " Berkly Castle," " Society" and"Nathaniell" be taken on shore there, and yl_ally_l remainder of y 1_ cloth as well y*_ designed for Persia as hither doe remaine on board shipps to be brought up unto us. Wee likewise order all the cloth, rashes & perpetuannaes be taken on shore and for any of yJL other commodities, as corrall, quicksilver, vermillion, lead, Ditto white or redd, copper, tynn, gunns, anchors, cordage or stores you find in Inv^_ you may take on shore what may be usefull to you, and yJ_ you conclude may be disposed of on y_£- Island ; the remainder to be sent up to us. As for mony you have not signifyed unto us your want ; yet in regard to yJL_ mint, wee would have you take out of y_i ingotts of silver to y«L amoA of 30000 RJL, or at most soe much as will pay yo_I souldiers or discharge your debts if you owe any, for you cannot but be sensible of our great engagements at interest, & how long it will be before wee can dispose of such great quantities of goods as are now come out. Wee desire you out of y*. large store of Muram* yi is now come out by these shipps y* you send us 10 barells of y A best, therefore give ordl? that they be tasted, & none sent us but wLare good. Wee have now wrote to yfL Admirall and Commanders, requiring y™ that they weigh anchor and sayle to us, soone after they have seen y *. new moone, if weather doe permitt ; & therefore in yJL meane time you must use your endeavours to take out of yi ships w ! goods wee have enordered, for wee had rather they should come away and keepe them on board, in regard to y±. despatch of yS., in season downe y_£ coast ; since wee can furnish you with y^l by other vessells afterward, & therefore give yfj. yoI_ dispatches accordingly.

The Pl_ thank es be to God is recovered of that dangerous disease yJL Fflux, but is yett weake in his joynts ; though wee hope in a short time he will recover his strength & have y±. use of his leggs. Wee dispatch y|_ unto you in hast, and therefore doe not discourse on further matters at present, but remaine

Your very Loving freinds, Surat, y%. 21*1 August 1676. GER. AUNGIER,

MATT. GRAY.

CHARLES JAMES.

CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

* Mumm. A sort of strong beer originally introduced from Brunswick in Germany, and bence often called Brunswick Mum.

SURAT LETTERS. 101

P.S. — The President having considerable summes of money due to him on ballance of accotf" with Girder & Cause Moody, doth desire yL you would receive yl said money into yi OompS! Cash, and alsoe wL money he hath in ML. Kings hands ; for all which he desires yi. you would draw your bills on yl President & Councell here for payment of yL. same, whereby you will not have occasion to receive soe considerably out of yl, ships, as wee have in a pro- ceeding clause enordered.

Wee are glad to reade yl yl. HonM? Company have sent out soe able a Physitian as Doctor Willson is reported to be, who, wee hope, will prove a great benefitt and happiness to yl Island; & in regard that yl.Dep!ie GovL. is soe disperately ill, & hath oLlycence to come up by yl ships, wee doe alsoe give leave to s"*. Doctor Willson to accompany him (if his conveniency will permitt), whome wee hope through y6_ blessing of God will be very Instrumental! toy* restoring him to his former health, and yl. Doctor shall be very wellcome to us here; and wee would have you alsoe send up Coloi Bake to us by yl. ships.

Worshipfull &«.

The enclosed is copy of oL. last sent you by Matteus y% Cooley, w^ wee now againe con- firme ; since wee have rec^-yoi original! of yl.9^ Currl, together with yl. certificate or valua- tion of vl. Dep*-!? Gov™ house, w$ at 2400 rupees wee thinke to be a deare penny worth, & touching w^ you shall receive oL. positive answere in due time.

Ol last yeares stores of arrack being almost spent wee desire you to furnish us by yl ship9 with 10 butts of very good arrack. W*_you sent us last was very much champored and adulterated ; wherefore let more care be taken in yl future. Yl being wl_ wee call to mind at present, wee remaine

Your very Loving Freinds, Surat, yL. 2J& August 1676. GER. AUNGIER.

MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Enclosed wee send you two pacquetts, yl one for Rojapore, w^ wee desire you to send forward by yl first oppertunity ; yl other for Carwarr to be sent forward by yl shipp now bound from yol Port thither ; & wee desire you to enquire for Mil Oxindens letters in yl Europe ships, & send yE by yl said ship.

Worsp1! &»

Yours of yesterdayes date, touching yl contract with Hemjee for yl Aurora coloured cloth wee rec'L last night ; but in regard to y!l Presidents indisposition more desturbing him last night y" at any time of late, & yL he was yl morning le!5 blood, wee therefore deferr oL answer untill tomorrow. Wee have alsoe reel yoL. answerr and concurrence with us as to yl disposal! of the 3 ships in their returne from the Mallabarr Coast, and shall now proceed with oL letters to yl sev1!. ffactories & yl Commanders despatches accordingly.

Wee are now a bargaining with Runchore Parrack &5?, Sheroffs for sale of yl Honors Companys gold at yl. prizes following, wherein wee desire yoL. opinion before wee conclude an absolute bargaine vizi .

12 Ingotts at 13 rupL per tola.

13 Do. at 12$ per tola. b 1255—26

To Swally.

102 SURAT LETTERS.

The Sovereigns and Spanish Pistolls at Rl 13$ per tola, the Duccats at 13f rup8 per tola, but in regl to the coarsness of y*_ Holland duccatts if there be more yE 2 in 300 tolas weight off yHL, then they desire some allowance to be made in yi_ price, and 31 days time on yL whole, provided you give yoL assent with us to y|_ approvall of yL said bargaine.

The reason yL wee are forced to sell it soe cheape is because yS. Sunnays are fallen \ a RupL less y5L they were last yeare, w<l makes all sorts of gold not soe much in esteeme as formerly, and wee alsoe find yl yL. Ingott doth not sell soe current as y%. coine.

Wee have reel yL particulars of yS. weight alloy and cost of yt. Gold & Silver, and have concluded the bargaine for yL. Silver, touching wcii wee were in agitation before ML. Gray went downe. YL. at present is yS. needf ull from

Your very Loving Freinds,

Surat, y<L 22'L. September 1G7G. GER. AUNGIER.

CHARLES JAMES.

May it please yoL HonoE?,

ro yi Company. Our last unto you was dated yL, 71h Aprill, recommended to yol Agent in Persia ; since w*

wee have reel yo'JL of yL 16*1 September, w£^ came to oL hands yl 29*1 Aprill by way of Persia ;

and on yL 20*^ August to oL great comfort wee recd_ yo^i of y|_...and 11*1 March sent by yL

" Barkly Castle" &fL ships, who, blessed be God, arrived all in company together on y± 13**! Ditto

at yoL port of Bombay, where having delivered such goods as they were enordered, they sett

sayle for Surat, & on yL. 15*1 September arrived safe in Swally hole. Wee are now very

busy in unlading y™ in order to their dispatch downe yL Mallabarr Coast for yL. bringing up y»

pepper &E^ goods there provided.

Wee shall not now undertake to answere any clause of yor__ letter referring yo l bono™ to OL

genL answere by yoj shipping, w?l wee trust in God to dispeed in due time towards you ; but

having taken into ol consideration yl cargo now sent out p. these ships, together witb y£ goods

remaining on o £ hands, as well here as at Bombay, and yL present marketts of goods in Surat,

we humbly desire yo|L hono™ to forbeare sending out yl following goods, till you have further

advice from us, in regard they are become in a manner totally unvendable & will be a great

losse to you, vizi,

Tynn

Corrall

Red Lead

Perpetuanaes

Guns & Anchors

Wee shall imploy oil best indeavours in yL disposall of yj? cargo now consigned unto us to yoL utmost advantage ; but yl present marketts give us very slender incouradgement for any Europe goods whatsoever as you will find by y • list of goods enclosed ; and yL times are be- come soe ticklish and dangerous for trade, soe many eminent merchants brought to decay and poverty, yl wee shall find more difficult y*L usually to meet w*l able & secure merch'l to deale with in ol contracts, for there is an extraordinary alteration in yj; trade of Surat to wi it was formerly ; but wee govern o I selves with advice, caution, and are as circumspect as wee can in all o 1 dealing for yS . Y2? treasure soe soon as cleared from y L. custome house safe shall be sold and disposed to yor best advantage.

The month of May last proved exceeding troublesome, for Sevajee with a considerable army having suddenly surprized a castle called Pindolle, about 3 dayes journey from Surat, belonging to yL Rajah of Ramnagurr, sends his envoy to yi Gov! of y% citty demanding

Cordage Tarr Pitch Iron Shott.

SURAT LETTERS. 103

9 Lack of Rup' to be paid immediately for redemption of yf. citty & y» quarter part of y* revenue of ye Country, otherwise he threatens to destroy all with fire & sword. This news put yf. towne into a distracted condition, y" most eminent merchants and all y° people were ready to run away, but \ " Gov.* shut up yf. gates & made some show of defence. Wee prepared the best wee could for security of yoL. house and estate, and having sent hack y6_ souldiers wch wee had from Bombay, were forced to supply their roome the best wee could. Yf. alarm continued longer y'" any wee have had hitherto, and y« danger more apparent in regL ofyLenemys soe neere approach. But it pleased God to divert y« storme, for yf Kanies drawing neere put a stop to Sevajees army from attempting the towne, but ye feare still con- tinues ; for now he hath possession of y^ Castle aforementioned, he looks himself as Mr_ of Surat and all y*. country hereabouts, & except y^ King takes some speedy care to protect y.°, towne and countrey it is likely to be reduced to a very ill condition in a short time.

Since ol last yf. Portuguez have been quiet, & have not offered us any disturbance on Bombay, the Viceroy having disowned y * proceedings of y • Capt. Genii.

The last ships jrt touched in Zeilon doe continue yJLnews of yf. warr raised ags* y° Dutch by y% King of Candy ; and yl most of yf Garrison y* was at Cochein was sent over for tlieir assistance; but ye_ Dutch give out y* they were upon termes of accommodation.

The Ffrench have a small vessell arrived w^ adviseth of another great ship belonging to their Company laden with goods and some treasure wfl1 they left off y er Islands Mascarenus. Yi ship yf Ffrench expect everyday. They say alsoe y.* yf. said Island beginns to be well planted by the Ffrench , & some considerable supplies are sent thither from France yl. yeare, but wee have noe further assurance thereof but from y^selves.

Wee herewith send yoL hono'2 a small pacquett from yo£. Ff actors at Syam and 3 more from yoL Agent and Councell at Ffort S *. George, where, blessed be God, all yoE. ships were safely arrived.

Wee have not rec^. any letters from Bantam a long time nor have wee any certainty of yf. " Unicornes" arrivall there ; but of Capi Limberys death we have advice by way of Ffort S4. George.

It hath pleased God to lett us see w* wee are by yf. frequent mortallitys w£h have hap- pened amongst us. In May Mil Lambert Daniel deel in Callicutt, in June ill Thomas Keck at Dungom, yf. Gth July ill Isaac Reynardson at Broach, yf loss of Ml Reynardson (wee much lament) for he gave us great prooffe of his integrity and abillity, and Capti Ustick decf^. in August atBombay, whose losse alsoe wee much lament. Yo£. President hath been confined to his bed neere 3 months by a dangerous flux, but by Gods mercy is now in faire hopes of recovery. Yo_L Dept'f Gov£ of Bombay is brought up to Swally in a very weake condition : he has desired ol leave to change yJL aire for some time in hopes of his recovery ; in whose absence Ml. John Pettit with yf. rest of yf. Councill surviving doe mannadge yf. affaires of yoL Island, to whose assistance wee shall appoint some of yo£_ serv^. to supply y 1 vacant places in Councell soe soon as oL leizure will admitt.

The " Persia Merchi" & " Scipio African" wee keepe in Swally hole in hopes of ffreight goods for Persia, for w^ Port they are layed in ; at present there are noe goods in towne nor doe wee expect any Caphilaes downe from Agra, Ahmadavad, Brampore, or Orangabad, till y_f months of November and December, wJi wee shall use o£_ utmost diligence to procure ffreighta for yfl though wee expect noe meane difficulty therein, for y f. number of ships now belonging to y f. Merch<f of y± port doe make goods on freight exceeding cheape & hard to be got ; but yol. shiping will faire better y» any of these ; nor shall ol. best endeav^L be wanting to en- courage you wJl in us lyes to keepe shipping constantly in India. Times for good and profitable

1 04 SURAT LETTERS.

ffreights once were, but now the scene is quite altered of wi it was. Wee commend yol honors to y %. Almighties protection, and remaine

Your Hon™ most humble Serv^, Surat, y*. 22^ SeptJL 1 676. GER : AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

The sevIL Commanders of yol, shipping have been desirous to send letters to their owners w?!? wee could not reasonably deny yHL; wherefore have enclosed y™' in yo.1 honll pacquett.

Prices of Europe Commodities, Surat, Anno 1676. Scarletts and fine greenes at 10 rupees p. yard. Broad Cloth Coarse at 2f rups. p. yard. Cloth Rashes at 2J rups. p. yard. Perpetuanaes at 20 raps. p. peeoe. Quick Silver at 45 rups. p. md. Vermillion at 10 rups. p. md. Lead at 2J rups. p. md. Copper at 1 8 rups. p. md. Allum at 3 J rnps. p. md, Iron at 2£ rups. p. md. Tinn at 11 rups. p. md. Red Lead at 1\ rups. p. md. Gunns at 3 rups. p. md. Anchores at 4 rups. p. md. Cordage at 9 rups. p. cwt. Tarr at 13 rups. p. barrell.

Ml-' John Petit &3 Councell. Our Loving ffreinds, To Bombay. Wee have now before us 3 of yo™ of y± 19^, 225* & 26^ September; y* of the 19** by

reason the pattamarr fell sick by the way came not to oL hands untill the 7* curr*.

The Ffrench ship the " Pinke," as alsoe the King of Bantams ship " The Blessing," arrived here the 4& Instant ; & yl. pacquett of letters was safely d* to MounsI Baron.

Wee have made inquiry for a coyner & shall send you one soe soon as wee can procure him.

Wee cannot approve what you write, y*. you will agree with the customers for the custome of yJL Ffrench masts, soe well as you can ; for there is nothing due thereon, in regard they were landed on y.L Island, not as goods for sale, but as stores belonging to y±. Ffrench King (out of yl Ffrench man of war) ; so y* wee judge the customers demands unreasonable & doe require y_l noe allowance be made them on y± accoll.

The invoice of goods taken on shore at yl Island out of the Europe ships wee have rec?..

Wee like well y^ you have secured the Ff renchman who wounded the Lascarr belonging to " The Blessing ;" if the si Lascarr dye, wee thinke good that you proceed ag!l him according to or_ lawes, suspending yoiL execution till you have o^ further orders ; but if he recover, you may release the Ffrenchman, he first sattisfying for his charges of the Court, the cure of the wound, and all other expences.

BUR AT LETTERS. 105

Wee well observe what you write of sending you downe an ample commission to act by in y affaire. Wee thinke it will not be prudence to be over-hasty, in regard wee know not as yet how it may please God to dispose of tbe Dept!? Gov* who still continues very weake, and in a desperate condition ; however wee desire Ml. Petit to act cheerfully in all the Cornp" con- cerns till or. further order, for wee have this affaire & the want of Councell in Bombay und* or consideration, but oL present stress cf business will not admit us finally to determine there- of. By the next conveighance you may expect to hear more largely from us.

The merchi here that hath hired the " Mallabarr Coaster" thinkes you have sett too high a rate on her ff reight, in regard she is bound from Carwarr with timber for y ° Island, w?h will not beare soe great a charge. Uis whole desire is yl her ffreight may be made soe that the Hono!^ Company may be gainers and himselfe noe looser ; wherefore wee would have you send us up an acco^. what charges she is at in fitting out on yJL voyage, and by that wee shall cal- culate her ffreight.

Our ffreinds at Carwarr doe very much complaine of you for detayning their pacquctta (wee sent you downe last raines) soe long on the Island, before you sent them forward to Roja- pore, for we!} neglect wee cannot but blame you, since it might have proved greatly prejudiciall to y_? Ilono^? CompI* affaires ; and wee hope you will be more mindfull in the future.

Wee have now rec5 Ml. Child &i? their answere touching the miscarriage and loss the Hono^p CompJ have sustained by sending the boates up empty from Rojapore ; & are sorry to see things goe soe crossly betweene them at Rojapore and you, to o L. masters prejudice, who will not be well pleased to be put to unnecessary charge, and pay freight and demurrage on vessells upon wf£ none of their goods have been laden. For OJL parts wee cannot justifie either them at Rojapore or you in this proceeding, nor doe wee approve of wJ is done, and though you doe both labour to vindicate yoJ selves, y ett wee doe find a fault in you both, & shall leave the finall discussion of y.1 affaire to o* Hon^L6 masters. Coppy of Mj[ Child &°% their letter, wee here enclosed send you ; and yl is what wee call to mind at present, soe remaine

Your very Loving ffreinds,

Swally Marine, yl 10lL October 1676. GER. AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Since writing the foregoing wee have further considered of yol great want of persons to assist in Councell ; and in regard that you are now but two who signe all letters, and act in all affaires relating to Comp?^ concerns, wee doe now appoint Ml John llornigold SecFJ to succeed as one of the Councell, till you can be further supplyed, he being the next person in succession on the Island.

Wee desire you by the first opportunity to send us up 15 barrels of tarr and 10 cwt. of y°L small ropes (of 1| Inches) for the use of the Comp^. ships and vessels here.

Wee take notice y *. you have not heard from Mil Mauleverer nor Narran Sunay since their departure. However the President hath retf*. a letter from Narran Sunay, w<* advises that Sevajee is willing to sattisfie the HonoM? Conip3" debt & w*. due to other persons in Varatts* or batty ; wherefore if you cannot bring him to any better termes, wee must be forced to be content with these ; & in such case you must be very carefull yLhis Soobedar doe not overrate the come, but yl. it be delivered you at such reasonable rates y"L Comply may be noe sufferers ;

* Varatts, — sometimes spelt Brawts, is the corruption of Vardha, a gold coin of Southern India, identical with what the European nations incorrectly called pagoda. Its original value was 3 J Rupees. This coin was called Varaha from its bearing on one side the figure of the incarnation or avatar of Vishnu.

b 1255—27

106 SURAT LETTERS.

and in case the townes you are assigned to receive the said batty in be over runn by the Mogulls army, the Compel may not sustain any damage thereby, for yl the batty must not be esteemed as yer Comp8;8- untill it be delivered their servants.

Wee have discoursed with y?L Dept"?- Gov!L touching y%_ house proposed for a Court of Judicature, who hath given us a very satisfactory accotlL; wherefore we have concluded to take it on y*„ Honour Comp^ & shall make good the mony here to yt^ p.sons concerned ; and desire you to take possession thereof, and now without delay goe forward in fitting up the present Court of Judicature for an Hospitall, for the sooner that soe necessary a worke is finished the better.

M^ John Petit &c-?_ Councell. Our Respected fl'reinds,

To Bombay. On the 12th Curr*_ wee recd_ yours of the 2<L and on the 14*£ your breife letter of the

yth m wee take notice of M^L Mauleverer and Narran Sunays proceedings with Sevajee ; they did well not to receive the plate, in regard there would have been soe great a loss upon it. Wee approve better of the receiving of it in Varatts, and therefore desire yL you would give yo'L di- rections accordingly. Wee had once great hopes that Sevajees country would have proved advantagious to y!L Honob1! CompL8 trade, and did believe he would have been soe wise and understand his owne interest soe farr as to have kept a faire and just correspondence with us ; but wee now find that soe long as that pirate and universall robber lives, that hath noe regard to freind nor foe, God nor man, there can be noe security in any trade in his country ; wherefore wee have determined to desolve y<L factory of Rojapore soe soone as wee can call in o£_ debts ; and have given order to Mr__ John Child & Ml_ Charles Ward to repair on ship " Nathaniell " to Bombay with what estate of the Comp^? they can bring away, & leave only Mr _ Robinson and Mr„ Michell to recover in y*. remaining debts. Wee have not consigned them any goods ys_ yeare, nor shall wee, till wee can bring Sevajee to a better understanding of us. The same intention, also, wee have for Carwarr, if it continues long under his jurisdiction, and wee would have you alsoe withdraw all trade and correspondence out of his country. As to matter of trusting him with any of the Compl^L concerns or estate, declare that you have expressed orders from us soe not to doe ; & in regard to the unworthinesse of his and his ministers dealings with us, were it not for oi. ffactors and y°_ Comp^ estate yet remaining at Rojapore, wee would take a more smart course with him & doe o1! selves justice on the first vessells wee could meet with belonging to his ports, but for y!_ wee must take some more convenient opportunity. In y >. meane time wee would have you give express orders to Narran Sunay, y\_ if he cannot procure speedy satisfaction paid in ready mony or in kind, but finds yi. they still continue to baffle him, y ^ he come away and treat noe longer with such false people.

Wee have secured Christopher Wrightsen and shall send him • down by the next oppor- tunity.

We observe what you write of the Portuguez erecting new Custome houses at Bandora and Trombay ; and little wonder at it, for wee except noe better from yJH. Wee wish you had not wrote to Emanuell Saldanha y t Captain Gen 1L about it ; for you gave him thereby occasion to make reflections, and to glory in his little acts of mischeife ; and w?^_ is worse, to discover the weakness and wants of the Island ; and it would be impertinent and import little to protest against him, seeing he may lawfully execute his owne authority in his owne jurisdiction. YoLbest remedy is to slight it, and take noe notice of such malicious practices, but overlooke them and laugh at y™. with a pleasant scorne. And to yJL end the Island may be always supplied with a sufficient quantity of corne and especially of batty, we hereby give you order

SURAT LETTERS. 107

y\. you buy upon the Comp*? account.', 2000 moras of batty, 'at y«. cheapest rates, and at yi. best time to keepe in store for supply of all emergencies; for the laying op and good keeping whereof you have a store house already built by the custome house, with which OCflM you may supply the marketts in time of necessity, taking care at y_°_ next convenient seasone to lay up store in yoJL granary againe, and keepe it always fully supplySt, and you must take care to commit the charge of the said granary to some carefull and honest man. 0 » grand designe in appointing this storehouse is for supply of the garrison in case of any sudden surprise of warr with Sevajee or the Portuguez or other Europe nations, and therefore faile not to goe speedily in hand with it ; for wee know not how soone the face of things may alter, as well in Europe as India, and if you want any assistance from us in y.!_ affaire, let us heare from you.

Wee approve w.<L you have done in [freighting the " Hunter " for Scinda though the price be very cheape, but wee require you to shorten her charge in proportion to the lowness of her ffreight, yjLyiL Compy. may be noe looser thereby. Wee would also have you procure a [freight for y |L" Phenix," and you need no trouble yoilselves for a guardship, in regard wee are at present (blessed be God) in peace with all y JL wourld, and soe long as o *„ ships are going and comming upon the coast there is no feare of danger.

Wee have perused the Vice Roys letter to you touching the Padrees run away from Goa ; and for that wee have been sensible of some inconveniencys caused by such vagabond Padrees, who leave their cloysters on purpose to lead lycentious lives in Bombay, and besides are apt to encourage the people to all disorder and disaffection to the English Government, wee therefore thinke good, that if such Padrees are upon the Island, you give them convenient notice to repaire to Chaule or where else they please to dispose of themselves, for yJ_ wee are not well sattisfied with their contynuance there.

MlLUstick had desired o * lycence to repaire to Surat, wlj) designe to continue here till yJL departure of the next yeares shipping, and that in yi. meane time she doth not designe to be burthensome to the Company here. Wee heartily wish she would continue on yJL Island till yJL time of y_?L said ships departure, in regard it is not yi_ Company s pleasure y* .any women whatsoever should remaine in Surat, but such as are marryed ; & therefore wee would have you perswade with her to continue some time longer there; but if you find her extraordinary im- portunate and resoluted to goe home for England on y_£ next ships, upon real of yo_L answere wee shall give such directions as shall be necessary.

Upon examination of yi_ invoyces from Europe wee find noe mention made of any iron laden on the "Society," but w±_ y±_ value is duely brought out in yjL marquet ; ye'L (as wee believe you meane) there is laden on the " Nathaniell " 43 bundles of rod iron w^L you must accordingly give in creditt for. YiL being what wee call to mind at present, wee commend you to y-£_ Almighties protection, & remaine

Your very Loving ffreinds, GER. AUNGIER. Swalhj Marine, i MATT: GRAY.

ye 17A October 1676. J CHARLES JAMES.

CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

The Company have given us expresse order to send home Ml, West and Mr Sclater by these ships; wherefore wee desire you to give you timely notice thereof, yJL soe they may [ire- pare themselves accordingly ; and wee would have you have an especiall eye over ym y L tht y may not be missing when the ships returne for England.

i

108 S URA T LETTERS.

Worship1*. &^

Our Loving ffreinds.

To Bombay. In persuance of oj: former intentions wee have considered y!_ necessity of resettling

the Government of Bombay, and though our worthy ffreind Me_ Phillip Gysford be still in being, and y_f. respect w^_ wee have to his merit & services hath caused us hitherto to suspend o I. determinations hereof, yett seeing his condition is such y_* promises little hopes of life, and for yj of duty requires us to take due care of the publique concerns of yl_ Island, wee have thought good to appoint and elect Ml_ John Pettit Deptl? Gov_L (only in respect to Mr_ Gysford wee have yi reserve, that if it shall please God to restore him to his health and strength it shall be at his choice to returne to his charge againe if he thinks good, seeing he hath well deserved from the rlonoM? CompZ & us during his mannadgement). Wee doe now therefore here enclosed send a Commission, wishing him all prosperous success in his employ- ment ; we hope he need not arguments either to encourage or instruct him in y_?_ mannadge- ment of yJL. weighty charge; for oT_ experience of his abilities, and his experience of the genj* affaires of the Island, will ease us of that trouble ; and wee know he will now clothe hiinselfe with a publique spirit and apply himselfe seriously to contrive all just wayes for yJL advance of the Comp S". interest and yi. gen *L good of the Island.

To w^ end wee thinke good to mind him and you all to hasten yi. Bastion soe fast as possible you can, for wee are ashamed that worke should lye so long on hand ; wherefore let it be finished with all speed, & excepting you may have some work to doe to yJL Hospitall wee would have you lay aside all worke without yi. ffort till y *_ be done.

Wee are very ill sattisfied in yi_ mannadgement of the acco*^ of Bombay, for wee have not rec<L nor adjusted any acco!H with you these 3 or 4 yeares ; wherefore wee desire you seriously to attend that affaire, and if Girder or y%_ Moody be dilatory in their acco**!, you must proceed severely with y^_ to bring them to better order, & if you judge it necessary to appoint any particular Bannian Accomp*. to keepe the Compaq genii, accotj! to be as a checke upon Girder and ye_. Moody &^_ wee would have you thinke thereof, and nominate some pson whome you shall thinke soe able, and upon reel thereof wee shall give you our direction therein. Wee are sensible of yl_ obstructions which have offered in ye__ settlement of those acco^i, yett wee cannot but justly complaine of the neglect, lazyness and dilatory proceeding of some who have had charge thereof formerly, w<*. wee desire you carefully to rectifie here- after. Wee have now appointed Ml. John Child to be accomp'L., whome wee suddenly expect from Rojapore, during whose absence wee would have you employ whatever persons you find capable to assist in y*_ office. To ye_ end the acco*^ will be speedily finished and adjusted, wee have appointed ML. Charles Ward to be Warehouse keeper, whome wee alsoe suddenly expect from Rojapore, soe yi_ when Mr_ Child and Ml_ Ward come to you, you will be supplyed sufficiently with assistance. As for yi_ treasure, that charge belongs to yi. Dep* ie. Govl_, who by the Comp3!. rules is to appoint such person whome he can confide in to keepe it. But as to y?_ Secretaries office, ML. Hornigold having made his request to keepe it till he may have a further employ, wee have thought good to gratifie him therein.

Notwithstanding wee wrote you long since to send us an account what calicoes & other Europe goods wee might expect from you, yett hitherto you have omitted it ; wee must needs complaine of much neglect in the Callico InvestmL; for wee are assured if you and yoL_Brokers there would be as industrious as you ought in yi_ inviting & encouraging weavers to settle with you, y*_ mannufacture of Calicoes would be increased much more yL_ it is. Wee desire you therefore seriously and earnestly to take yl_ affaire into yoL. consideration, and to use

SURAT LETTERS. 109

nil just meaxtefl possible to invite and encourage weavours of all sorts to inhabite on y°__ Island, &itisor opinion that seeing the country of Sevajee and Decan is harrassed & much ruined by y°_ warn, if you did employ some persons to invite the weavers of those parts to come over to you they would gladly accept it only for a secure livelyhood sake, wherefore use yoL_ endeavours herein ; and wee givo you notice, y*__ it is the Clomp18.- particuler directions to U8 to procure as many Dungaree weavers to settle on y*_ Island as wee can in regard y*_ com- modity is in request, to whome alsoe wee would have you procure as many Pautkae weavers as you can, for they alsoe will be necessary ; and assure yoL. selves what industrie and ingenuity you employ in yi_ affaire will be well esteemed by oL_ Hono^Ie masters and by oL_selves.

And for yor__ better supply of cotton yarne for y%_ keeping the said weavers at worke wee shall send you downe by the " Hoigh " a considerable parcell of Rojapore yarne, which will be with you in a few dayes after reci_ of yi_ letter, whereof w*, is propper to be delivered out to yl_ weavers for yt_ making any sort of Calicoes fitt for Europe above mentioned, wee would have soe disposed off, and yl_ remainder sold to ye Compy* best advantage. In yt_ meane time faile not to get ready wL_ Baftas broad and narrow you have provided for England to be sent up by the " Hoigh," whome you must not faile to dispatch soe soon as you can conveniently, j*, the goods may arrive timely with us, and y *_. yi_ " Hoigh " may be serviceable in yl_ lading the ships, whereas otherwise the Compy__ will be put to ye_ charge of hiring boates, and to y!_ end you must quicken yor_. dull and dilatory broker Girder, who too much wants a spurr in all buisness that relates to yl_ Company.

Wee did formerly require you to recover of Ml_ Richi_ West the mony due to Ml_ Bonithon dec'i_, but you have hitherto done nothing, therein faile not to receive the said mony into the Clomp"*- Cash, and give us notice that wee may make it good to yl_ Persons concerned therein.

Wee have rec(l_ yoL_ letter of the 26^L October by Matteus and shall now answere what clauses are necessary therein. As to yi. new house bought for ye_ Court of Judicature, you are to take notice y*_ the ground belonging thereto is bought together with yl_ house which you must take in for a back yard. As to y!__ customers reply and request touching the Ffrench Masts wee can by noe meanes admit thereof, for it is most unjust in them to take such meane advantages on y^_ Comp7_ on all occasions, & it will be more unjust in us to permit it, & by the same pretence they may demand custome on all the goods landed out of the " SL. Francisco," which would be most unreasonable to imagine, wherefore wee doe not only require you to charge nothing on yt, Compas_ Acco**_on y*_ score, but to enter a provisionall clause in ye . custome house articles to cleare the Company totally of all such impertinent and troublesome demands hereafter as well in respect of ships comming into port as goods landed there.

Wee approve well yol^ sale of 50 P8_ Broad Cloth at 3 £ R8^ p. y4_ 8 moL. time, and would have you encourage what you can yl_ vent of all EngV manufactures especially cloth.

What Iron you cannot sell there or dispose of in ye__ Comp8^. service wee would have you send up by the first opportunity yl_ it may not lye dead.

Wee observe what you write touching the Portuguez prohibiting all provisions to be

brought from Salsett Wee would not have you take it to heart or be any wayes discouraged

at their malitious practices, but send what vessells you can downe to Mangalore and Bassalore

to lade rice there for y e__ suply of yl_ Island, and soe you must doe yearely, that y<L Portuguez

B 1255—28

110 SURAT LETTERS.

may see wee have as little occasion to make use of y5L as they of us. Wee call not else to mind at present, but commend you to yl_ Almighties protection. Wee remaine

Your very Affectionate Ffreinds,

Swat y*_. i% Novl. 1676. GER AUNGIER.

MATT. GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Worship!1^ &?^_

*

To Bombay. Our last unto you was dated yi_- CurrL-. YL_ wee send you by y^_ "Ruparell", now

returning to Bombay.

The Hono'if Company having given some particular direction touching the Island Bombay in their gen11-, letter, wee now thinke good to send you transcript of their said orders for your better observance thereof though their contents have been already communicated unto you.

In particular you will find yL_ they have desired us to send y"l_ our opinions touching yfL overflowne lands, about we£ wee have had some discourse with Colo11.. Bake, but for want of his papers & remembrances, he could not give us any positive answere, therein promising to send it up to us from Bombay. Wee therefore desire you to mind him thereof }rt_ it be done with all speed, and wee would have you take due advice with those Cunbyes and persons of Sivajees country who did formerly undertake to enter on said worke and with what other persons you judge capable to give you councill therein, and when you have rec4_ Colonel Bakes opinion together with theirs, wee would have you upon y±_ whole give us your opinion woh you like best, and which is most f eizable, declaring your reasons for y«_. same ; and when wee have rec*_ your opinion, wee shall be yJL better prepared to give our judgements thereof, and y£_ sooner ys.. be effected ye_ better for time growes upon us.

You will see y*_ CompZ, have made a proposall touching y^ lessning yl customes of goods imported yt_ are to be manufactures, wherein wee presume cotton yarne and raw silke is chiefly intended, in wsk affaire wee would have you consider whether y*_ lessning or taking yi, customes wholy of those goods importation will contribute any thing to yi manufacture of calicoes or wrought silke on yS, Island, for if soe it would be laudable & hopefuU designe ; wherefore lett us know yoL_ opinion therein. Lett it be one of your maine designes to encourage y!„ said two manufactures and especially y*_ of calicoes, and to invite as many weavers as possible you can, in order whereunto you must promise them such privi- lidges, immunities, and exemptions from publique duties as they shall reasonably desire from you, for nothing will fright ySL. more y!L_ hard services in watching and attendance on y!L Militia from w£L they are to be wholy exempted.

Touching y*. granary for corne wee hould it soe necessary, yl_ yl_ Island cannot be safe without it, wherefore wee confirme our former direction therein, but you need not be overhasty to buy it all at once, for y5_. yl_ price will rise exceedingly upon you, but you must procure

SURAT LETTERS. Ill

it at best cheapest time in y!_ ycare, for y-L. y^_Compy will not loose therein-, and if you could serve yourselves any where else y» from y!L Portugall country, wee should be much better pleased, for they will assuredly raise y^ price upon you, and wee suppose you may he furnished cheaper from Bassalore by y"L_ Compaq vessells yD... from any other place.

You will see y*L. y?.,. Comp?r have desired to be sattisfyed touching their houses in Bombay. We would therefore have you cause a list of all yc ■ . houses to he taken, specifying their dimen- tions, yl_ materiall of **,. they are built, ye.. roomes wil;_they containe, yc present uses they are put to, and their prime cost, which list send to us yL_ wee may advise y° CompZ W* further necessary therein.

Wee would have you advice us how yi, Souldiers sent out y9.. yeare doe comfort themselves & especially yi__ G ermanes ; & lett us know how many EngL_ Roman Cattholieks there are in yl_ CompJL service, their employs, and how they doe behave themselves therein.

You will observe w^_ y!L Compy__ write about ye-r sale of their brass gunns, weJl wee would have you sell to any butSevajee, for he is not to be trusted; wee wish they were disp off, for y*_ mony would doe well in yi. Compel Cash.

Wee are commanded to treat Madam Shaxton, Madam Wilcox and their families with all faire respect) WJ* wee recommend unto you, and when Madam Shaxton returnes from Rojapore wee would have you take care of some suitable accomodation for her. Touching other particu- lars wee referr you to y!L_ Comp?L owne directions.

On yi vessell their are some English men who have served in her two months and demand- ed their wages of us, declaring they were entertained as in yl_ Compel, service, bat wee knowing they were imployed for ye_ defence of Girders vessells, have not concerned oL_8elve8 therein, but referred y5L to you to see justice done y™. there.

There are two Bocamortisses on board y"_ vessell wcJL belong to \%r ffactory of Rojapore. Wee would have you receive y*. into yt_ CompQL. store house and give ye_ said ffactory creditt for yEL.

Wee expect ye_ Compa'L ship called y*__ "Formosa MerchlL." in a short time from Tywan, laden with Copper and other goods. Wee presume she will first put into Bombay ; if soe wee would have you take on shore all y?_ Copper for y*, use of your mint and w*_ other goods you can dispose off on ye.. Island, and dispatch y<L ship with the remaining Cargo towards us with all speed, not excenting further order.

By "John Emerson" wee send you a box with 3 locks wherein you are tokeepe y°_Compf_ seales according to y*_ clauses of their letter relating to )rt_ affaire. Yi. being wl_ wee have to add at present, wee remaine

Your very Loving Ffreinds,

Sural ¥-21* Nov^. 1676. GER. AUNGIER.

MATT: GRAY. CHARLES JAMES. CASAR C1IAMBKELAN.

Whereas Neema Parrack, an eminent Banian Merchant of jl City Diu, hath expressed his desire to settle w11! his family and trade on yi Island Bombay, from y^ilaincw^ he hath heard of yi Hon'ili Comp^ large commerce, upright dealing, justice, and moderation to all

112 SVRAT LETTERS.

persons y* live under y •. shaddow of their Governing; and in order thereunto hath requested a pattent from us, under y • Comp^? seale containing certaine favours wi* he begs in relation to liberty, and security in y %, exercise of religion, trade, property, and reputable residence on sij Island, wee y» President and Councill for yt said Hon"2 Comp» have thought good, in regard to his eminent worth and good report, to grannt him y4 following privilidges :

1. ThatylHonb!f Comp* shall allot him soe much ground in or neere y£ present free of rent as shall be judged necessary to build a house or warehouse thereon.

2. That he w^ y% Braminees or Ver of his cast shall enjoy yi free exercise of their religion w^in their owne houses w^out y^ molestation of any person wl soever, that noe Engl-man, Portuguez or other Christian, nor Mahomitan, shall be permitted to live wlMn their compound, or offer to kill any living creature there, or doe y£ least injury or indignity to y3 ; and if any shall presume to offend y™ wJ^in y.1 limits of their said compound upon their complaint to yl. GovJi or Dep*y Gov_I, y± offenders shall be exemplary punished ; y * they shall have liberty to burn their dead according to their custome and alsoe to use their ceremonies at their weddings, and y*_ none °f their profession of w*. age, sex, or condition w* ever they be, shall be forced to turne Christians, nor to carry burthens ag^ their wills.

3. That he and his ffamily shall be free from all duties of watch and ward, or any charge and duty depending thereon ; that neither y iCompl nor y e_ Govi : , Depty Gov! or Councill or any other person shall on any pretence whoever force yJ? to lend money fcr publique or private accomp* or use any indirect violence or wayes to y* effect; but yi. they shall w^ all freedome enjoy their properties, estate & goods wi^out any molestation.

4. That in case there falls out any difference or suite in law between him or his vakeell or atturneys or yl Banians of his cast, and any other persons remaining on the Island, yl. Gov^T or Depi? Gov!, shall not suffer him or y i? to be publiquely arrested, dishonoured or carry ed to prison w^out first giving him due notice of y£ cause depending, y*. he or they may cause justice to be done in an honest and amicable way, and in case any difference happen between him, or his atturney, or any Banian of their owne cast, they may have liberty to decide it among themselves wJ^ out being forced to goe to law.

5. That he shall have liberty of Trade in his owne ships and vessels to wiport he pleases, and com in and goe out when he thinks good wi£ out paying anchorage having first given yE. Gov.r or Dep*y Govi or Customer notice and taken their consent thereunto.

6. That in case he brings any goods on shore more yn_ he can sell on y"L Island w*^in y^ space of 12 months he shall have liberty to transport yHLto wi port he pleases, w^out paying Custome for exportation.

7. That in case any person be indebted to him and also to other Banians, and be not able to pay all his debts, his right may be prefered before other Banians.

8. That in case of war, or any other danger wfj1 may succeed, he shall have a warehouse in y * Castle to secure his goods, treasure, and ffamily therein.

9. That he or any of his ffamily shall have liberty of egres and regres to & from y?. ffort or residence of y^ Governor and Dep^Z Gov I ; y ^ they shall be received w^ civil respect and be permitted to sit downe according to their qualities ; yi they shall freely use coaches, horses or pallanqueens and quitasals for their conveniency w^out any disturbance ; y i their serv*£ may weare swords and daggers, shall not be abused, beaten or imprisoned except they offend ags* y| law, and y* in case any of his kindred or freinds shall come to visit him or them from any other parts, they shall be used with civility and respect.

BUR AT LETTERS. 113

10. That he and liis assigncs shall haveliherty to sell and huy coconuts, heetlenuts, paunne, and any other comodity not rented out, w^iout any molestations on yH Island.

Worshipfull &c.

Our respected ffreinds,

Since our last of y « 9$ Instant wee have rec^ two of yo™ of y « 3* & lO1*1 Aprill. In yl first wee ohserve yoL answer touching y •_ articles proposed by Neena Parrack Banian, in order to his settlem* on Bombay. When wee come againe to treate with him thereon wee hope soe to moderate y<L affaire yl yl Island shall not receive any y% least prejudice thereby, and wee doe not question but wholy to put him by his request of 10 m'li of Tobacco wj£ he would annually receive or bring on the Island free of all duty • .

Wee take notice of y° 1407 ba*. of rice the " Good Neighbour" hath brought you from Carwarr, y? ffreight of what rice she should bring thence wee long since concluded at 10 Rupees y". Surat Candy, soe yj wee would have you see how much y% bags containe. Make up yl acco*!; at y*L aforesaid rate and draw a bill on us here for y^ amo* of y*. money wc^ wee shall make good to y % owners of y %. ship.

Wee are well pleased to read yl successe your vessels have had overy* Mallabars in taking four of their prowes w°5? is an acceptable piece of service.

Wee doe concur will Madam Young y*. all or y • greatest part of yl. 73 Chests Shyraze wine might be sent to Surat on y.e Compas. acco*., but y*4 will not cleare her dec d husband Cap! Henry Young from y 1 demands of Sen EXeny ; for what wine he sent to Surat he hath given himself credit for in yi> Comp^ Bookes, soe y\ Lenys demands are still the same. If she hath nothing else to offer in her defence, wee see no just reason why yl. debt may not be made good to him of which pray let her be acquainted.

Wee are very sorry to read of yjL unhappy accident yl befell you in blowing up 35 barrells of powder ; and give God thanks yl it hath done noe greater mischeif e. We desire you to be more carefull hereafter, and when you dry your powder to give notice to yl Garrison Souldiers, and all others, y * they come not neare with fire or any combustible matter.

Wee are not well pleased w^ yl Souldiers request you present to us, to consider of y 1 great loss they receive by having their wages paid them in Bujerooks* and Dugonyst for wee have given noe orders for altering the valew of sf species and presume you have not raised them but y *. they pass still curri for wJ; they did upon the Island, and as to their passing abroad we are not to concerne ourselves, and if there be any abuse in yl. shroffs by their raising y« Vataot you must punish them, but wee had information by the late DepJl? Govl y* y* cheife officers doe much abuse y f. souldiers, in keeping all the silver and gold to themselves of w * they make an advantage to their prejudice ; and wee suspect this petition and designe to be fomented by them, w<* wee would have strictly enquired into and informe us the truth of w^ yo!i find. It is a thing of bad consequence to alter y * settled pay of ye_ souldiers, who are a guarrilou9 ungrateful people and never satisfied. Wee are sure there is noe garrison in Asia, or Europe, better paid then yjL of Bombay and yet they are alwayes craving. If provisions are deare, you must use all just meanes to procure y" plenty and cheape as you can, but for altering their pay, or valew of yl current coine wee doe not approve it.

* Budgrook. — A coin of low denomination and of varying value and metal (copper, tin, lead, tutenague) formerly current at Goa and elsowhere on tho western coast, as well as at some other places on the Indian Seas. It was adopted from tho Portuguese in tho earliest English coinage at Bombay. — Colonel Yule's Hobson-Jobson.

t Dugony was a Bombay coin of the value of two pics."

X Vatao or Vatav means the rate of exchange.

b 1255 -29

114 SUE AT LETTERS.

Wee are as little satisfied with what you write about your troopers augmentation of their pay in regard to their wearing out more cloths then the ffoot, and making themselves short boots against y • rains. Those who were the first promoters of this design should have done well to have considered this before, and now it would not be discretion nor prudence in us to raise their pay so soone after they are established, nay hardly before they are warme in their imployes.

Wee have recil your account of Customes bought by Ml Joseph Burges and do very much strange at the great loss thereon. Doubtless the Cornp* will not be thus satisfied, but will demand satisfaction for so notorious a loss from those who managed the Customes yi year, which do not turn to their honour. We now send downe said M"L Burges, touching whome we shall write you more hereafter.

On yl ship " Return " wch now goes down to winter with you, since we could not procure a ffreight for her there this monzoon, we have sent you 3 horses out of those we reci from Persia for supply of your Troop, whose invoice goes inclosed, for which we desire you to give us credit.

Some time since by order of your Governor there was taken on shore from Ml Alexander Oglevy 6 pieces of Broach Dimmitys for Table Linning for your use of yl Sort, w0!1 said six pieces belonged to MrT Isaac Reynardson deal for which he was never yet satisfied. Wherefore we desire you to give us credit for Rupees 84, your amount of the six peeces Dimmity ; and we shall make it good to his account here. If you want any assistance in your offices in coppying out letters or accounts or any other such like service, M^ Joseph Burges hath promised to assist you so far as he is capable during yl time of y4 raines. This being what we have to enlarge on at present, we commend you to yl protection of yl Almighty, and remaine

Your very loving ffreinds, Suratt, y± 26% Apr-ill 1677. GERA AUNGIER.

CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Worsp",

Wee doe very much strange at yl extravigancies of Ensign e Thorpe in offering to make prize of any of our neighbours vessells y% are in amity w*£ us, and do very well approve of w| you have done in publique examination of him, and taking from him his Commission w£l may testify to yl world yl we disowne such irregularities and violent actions. Hitherto have we reci no complaints from this Governor nor any person else ; when we doe wee shall give them such answer as is necessary. This at present is the needfull from

Your very Loving ffreinds, Suratt y± 3t May 1677. GERAr AUNGIER.

CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

Worshipfull &4»

This Citty of Surat and the Countries adjacent have for these 4 years been nnder a con- tinued feare of being surprized by Sevagees Army, for his souldiers are garrisoned and lodged

SURAT LETTERS. 115

securely in Nunsarec and Gundave, and y°_ cheife officers taken up y« Desys owne houses, who wth their iTamilys and the Cazzysand y" cheife men are all fled to Surat, and Sevagees men doe not only force contribution from the Country, but come boldly into this towne wth_ 40 and 50 horse at a time and publiquely demand provision and contributions from the Gov^, and the Kings officers, and 'tis confidently affirmed y*. Sevagees Array increases dayly more and more, and y\ many of his souldiers are lodged privately in the very Towne of Surrat upon some designe wci hath caused y% Cap! of ye. Castle to raise 500 souldiers more for his defence and to keep an extraordinary strickt watch day and night ; and you may conceive yi our Ffrench and Dutch neighbours as well as ourselves have y%. same apprehension for their Masters estates and our owne liberties. But should Sevagee surprise y* Townethereis no possibility for us to oppose them but must keepe as faire tearmes w^fe him as wee can, and it is somewhat to our contentml. y*. you main- taine w* them a faire understanding at Bombay, as alsoe our ffreinds at Rojapore, and they alsoe doe reciprocally toward you, soe yi. wiever designes they may have against J* towne yet wee are willing to believe that he hath noe ill intentions against us. However wee trust him not, and would willingly use all convenient meanes to satisfie ourselves whether he meanes well towards us, and have thought good therefore to write a civill letter to Morah Pundit, who is Gen1! of his army, desireing him that he would give his instructions and strict orders to Trumbuckgee and y? rest of y* officers y* do now command the army, or whoever shall hereafter command in his absence, yL w*. ever attempt they make upon y% towne, they doe not offer any violence to y« English house or Nation or to any of their Broker or servants imediately depending upon them, and y* they would send y? gjj orders to us to show to y!_ officers in case there be need. Wee send you herew**L y« coppie of our letter to him w^L wee desire you not to send by Narransinay, for his proceedings are very tedeous and slight, but wee would have you send Cap!L Keygwin together w^L Cans Moody for his interpreter w% it who is to bring an answer together w*^. yt. said order. This wee effectually recommend to you, and if you conceive anything elce yL may tend to our further satisfaction or security, wee would have you put it in execution and likewise advise us w% you can learne concerning Sevagee and his army and your judgement thereon, wS^ is yt- needf ull touching this affaire.

Wee have since thought good to write one letter to Sevagee also of same tenor to yf, to Mora Pundit, and whereas wee have ordered CapL Keygwin to manage this designe, now wee con- ceive it may be done by less expence, by sending only a discreet Sergeant whome you may ac- commodate w^l y% Comp*? horses, and things necessary for his charge, w?}? wee desire may be as moderate as can be contrived ; and wee give instructions to Cans Moody to enquire w*T newes he can, yl wee may be instructed as fully as wee can expect in such a conjuncture. And faile not to write what newes you can, where Sevagees person is w** his army, and alsoe where the army under Mora Pundits command doth take up his winter quarters.

The CompL. in their letters overland, doe advise y*. ye7 callicoes sent off late from Bombay are very deare, and unless they can be made better and cheaper procured, it will be to their loss to have any made there at w!^L wee cannot but admire, and beleive it some abuse in y_f Broker, wherefore wee would have you look after him more dilligently in y^L ff uture ; and it is the Compa» desire yl all their Baftas broad, narrow, and Sevaguzzes be made but 20£ covits long, the old dimentions, w^ order you must observe for what cloth yo i?. make hereafter. Wee remaine

Your very Loving Ffreinds,

Surat, y% 26* May 1677. GER4- AUNGIER,

CHARLES JAMES. CASAR CHAMB RELAX.

116 SURAT LETTERS.

Worshipfull &™ To Bombay. It hath pleased God to our great sorrow after a tedious sickness to take out of this life

or worthy Presidt- Gerald Aungier, who deci. this morning between four and five of yl. clock, of w£i wee thought good to give you this timely notice, yl you might prevent all innovations or disturbances upon y* Island; and for ylbetter GovernmLof affaires thereof, wee herew^ send yol coppy of a clause of yl Hon!i^ Compel letter bearing date y* 22iFfebfy, wherein you will find yl they have made provision in case of y* decease of yf, Hon^i Gerald Aungier, and M.r_ Matthew Gray, ylthey have given full power and authority to three of their Councill of Surat, or more, to act as Commissioners in yl manadgement of their affaires in these parts of India. Wherefore untill y® rest of ylCouncill can be conveniently call'd up hither to consider and determine w.*. shall be necessary and consistent w^ y* Compf^ interest for yf_ more ample establishment of their affaire, wee think good to confirm Ml John Pettit our worthy ffreind in y® management of yl affaires on ye Island to act (w*£ advice of yl. present Councill of Bombay) in as full power and authority as he could or might doe by virtue of yl commission given him by o* late Hon^S Preside &£l, hereby requiring all persons inhabitants on y!_ Island of wL qua- lity and degree soever to obey and observe his orders accordingly. And wee doe commend to your care the preservation and good Governm* of yS Island, yi all things may be continued in such forme and order as at present they are established, observing for y_ Suture such directions as yoH. shall from time to time receive from us, and wee desire yo!L to strengthen us w^ your advice and councill in anything you shall find conducing to yl. Comp^i interest.

Our thoughts are now taken up in giving orders and directions for yl decent buriall of yer defunct, whom, God willing, wee intend to interr on Munday next, in such manner as yl time and place will admit, that at present wee enlarge not, but to remaine

Your assured Loving Freinds,

Sural, y%, 30th June 1677. CHARLES JAMES.

CASAR CHAMBRELAN.

SELECTIONS

FROM

THE BOMBAY LETTERS,

1677-1743.

b 1255—30

SELECTIONS

FROM

THE BOMBAY LETTERS,

(1677—1742).

HonoM? &£

Though wee are sensible the PresidL and Councells elaborate pen will not passe over any materiall affaire relating to yJL places concerne, yet wee cannot but suppose it a part of yi duty incumbent on us to render our sence of y± Island Estate, w**f wAever wee shall deem may meritt your Hon 5 knowledge, ws£ wee humbly offer to yoJl favourable construction, and hope the Divine powers will so far enable us yl neither in the narrative or active part of our duties wee shall be omisive of the least perticular yA may give your Honi? due satisfaction, begging a candid interpretation of o * weak though fervent endeavours, it being most certaine that a suc- cessful! event does not alwayes crown yl most prudent propositions, but among wise men ever applause or at least excuse, w** alone consideration fills us w!^ alacrity and zeale.

Our Militia is now perfected, wee having increased y j? to a compleat body of neare 600 men who are all possessours of land on the Island. Wee shall see yJ? well trained up and disciplined that they may be serviceable, and to be relied on upon y 4 most emergent occasions, and hope time will bring y™ to so good amartiall order y* y± security and defence of yl Island may much depend upon their strength. There is above 100 more owners of lands y! are Braminys and Bannians, who, being never accustomed to beare armes, are willing to contribute in money, w^ will help towards payment of y± Militia officers. Wee are not yet come to an agreement how much they shall pay, but in a month or 2 more shall conclude on it. The charge of the officers is as much abbreviated as possible, the whole body having but one Cap * who has but Lieut!? pay, and the Lieui Ensignes pay, and y± Ensignes Sergeants pay, some of the Sergeants but Corpo- rals pay, and Corporals but very few, some of w£j? wee shall pick out of the Militia y JL shall serve wthout pay.

The Presidi and Councell has ordered us to raise a small Troop of 40 horse, y£ w5J! nothing can be of greater safeguard to y t Island, for besides yl extraordinary fame of horse in these countreys, one horse being esteemed equivalent to 50 foot, they are such an ubiquitary force, yi in halfe an houres time by taking up 40 Souldiers behind yS wee can have 80 men in any part of the Island compleatly armed, ready to impeed an enimies landing, or to quiet any sudden insurection. And the charge of all y.L but very small : the Cap! only will receive pay ; as for a Lieui & Cornet wee shall oblige some of Honi? own servants to officiate those places, Quarter Masters wee want none, & the 3 Corporalls will have but . . . X » p. month each more y*. private centries. Troopers we shall choose out of the Garrison souldiers, and though y^ Garri- son Comp*? are y± weaker by it it matters not, instead of w2ll there shall allwayes be a divi- sion of the horse keep a guard over against y± ffort gate. The most part of f± Horse shall be of the countrey breed, w^ will but cost 60, 80, or 100 Rupi. p. horse, who will not need y *. high feeding of jagree and butter commonly given to all horses in these parts ; and whereas it is the custome for every horse to have a horsekeeper, wee will endeavour to make one horsekeeper serve two horses, & for grasse & hay wee will make y± Island supply us for nothing, as it has hitherto done for those horses wee now have, wch are at present 31 in number, w^h were ever a great charge & yet of no defence for want of modelling into a Troop and disciplining ; & wee

120 BOMBAY LETTERS.

think ourselves very happy in j± choice of so expert and discreet a Command 1 as is over y™, yl Presidi & Councell haveing conferred yl employ"^ upon Capi? RichfL Keigwin.

Our souldiers, thanks be to God, continue very healthf ull, for whereas last yeare from October to FeblX there died above 100 men, this yeare wee have not lost 15, most of wE^ of impos- thumation in yl liver, much of w5^ benefit wee must attribute to oJL new hospitall, wee having taken yl old Court of Judicature for yl. use, it being a thing so highly necessary, for the souldiers doe not die by any such fatality concomitant to y_l clime as some vainly imagine, but by there irregularitty & want of due attendance when sick. For to persons in a flux & . . . w^? is yl country diseases, strong drink & flesh is mortall, w£t to make an English souldier leave of is almost as difficult as to make him divest his nature, nay though present death be laid down before him as the reward of yl ill gratifying his palate. This is the true cause our Bombay bills of mortallity have swelled so high, whereas in yl Hospitall nothing can come in or out w%>ut passing yl Doctours eyes, y4 wee have great confidence this Hospitall will save yol Hon™ some hundred pounds yearely w^ yl transport of souldiers exacts.

The Court of Judicature wee have built in the Bazar, being a far more convenient place and of greater ease for all sorts of people to repaire thither, and more fitting for persons where prisoners may beg reliefe of passengers.

Our rents were not much increased last year, though something they were our chiefe rent. The Custome is farmed for 27000 Xs., but wee must speake it to our great griefe, that whilst wee are so incompassed wiL y*. Portugueze and Sevagy on all sides, wee cannot expect our trade greatly to increase; for yl reason of yl flourishing trade of Surat and other Sea Ports is this, that Merch^. who bring their goods from other countreys in shipping, land yE and transport them up y± countrey from thence for sale, or sell y?L to other Merch^ who doe the same, & againe Merch1! buy in-land goods, bring them freely down to port without molestation, nay Customes or much charges, where is alwayes shipping ready, whereon they lade y1! for all parts of India. Now the egresse and regres for Merch*L up yl countrey from hence is totally obstructed , the Portugueze having the Islands of Caranjah and Salset, w$ almost surrounds us, and they are ever exquisite seekers of all wayes imaginable to doe us mischiefe, envying as wee suppose the sudden prosperity this place is rose to. The chiefest, nearest, and best passe up yl countrey is by Tanna, where formerly they tooke of all goods w£^ passed by 3 p. cent, but now for the sake of only Bombay they have raised it to 10 p. cent, wl!1 is equivalent to a totall forbidding all goods to passe. Likewise all timber for shipping & houses of durance, w$ wee may call y_i oak of India, growes up at Cullean, Bimurly, & must necessarily passe by Tanna, where they take 33 p. cent, custome. They have y* yeare forbid all rice to be transported to Bombay, and doe often put excessive excises upon even hearbs, and fruit, and hens, w^ poor people bring over at Bandora, but in y_L & mostother thingstheir malice shoots much short of theirintention, for, thanks be to God, wee have alwayes provisions in aboundance, our Island being commonly rather a granary of corne then otherwise, from whence it is transported to Rajpore, Goa, and other places, and it shall be o& care never to see yl. Island unprovided of provisions. But wee could find other wayes to passe up yl countrey wt* little trouble were there peace between yl Moguls and Sevagy, or that the Mogul would take all this countrey about us ; for about 2 dayes journey up y « Hill between the Moguls & Sevagys dominions lies a perpetuall seat of war, so that no Merch*?. can passe w^out apparent hazzard of being plundered, so y*. wee cannot expect MercM! should land their goods here w^out knowing where or how to dispose of them, that wee often wondred how so considerable a custome could be annually raised, and wee can attribute it to nothing but yl justice, freedome, & security people injoy here above other places, many fami- lies of BraminyJ! dayly leaving y^ Portuguezes territories & repaire hither frighted by y4 Padrees, who upon yl death of any person forces all his children to be Christians ; and even some of y * chiefest who still live at Bassin & others build yE houses here, therein placing their

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wives & children against a time of danger. Wee have hopes time will settle these parts in peace that Merch.^ may he induced to bring down their rich goods from up the countrey, the custome of one of which ships would amo^- tow_* recei} here in halt'e a year, yi Port having in respect of situation & convenience the advantage of Surat, Goa, & all y c. Ports on y? whole Coast. Goa lying so far down helow y_9 great places of Guzzarat, Ditty, Branpore, Ourungabaud, &c% where y± great glut of goods w£ supplies Europe & all India is made, India growing there narrow from one sea to y_f other that it is very chargeable bringing down goods thither ; yJJ Surat is one of the worst roads in India & extream dangerous in yl freshes, & the transport of goods up by yi distance very chargeable, whereas Bombay lies in an excellent latitude for y • whole trade of India, & is a most excellent harbour, winter & summer, wcJ? is a great inviter of Merch*?, & for a small charge wee will run up a stone causeway fromyj; Fort allmost to y? Mint without, in w??> ships may at any time ly ashoar, carine, & mend, or ly there y_° whole yeare wlh as much safety as in a Dock ; & upon y % countreys being in peace, & our landing ol Europe goods here Merchi8 would easier be perswaded to transport y™ from hence then from Surat, and though yl same Custome was taken at landing y™ on yl Maine as at Surat, yet all that was transported in shipping to forreign parts would be so much custome gained to your Honours &c ■ , but these are happinesses in posse, & to be prayed for.

Wee have yi. yeare sent up to Surat above 2000 p^L of Baftas, all made by yl weavours of y • Island y *. have been induced to come and inhabit here, the Broker having formerly for his credits sake deceiv J* us w^ Cambaya cloth instead of Bombay, w0^ does but hinder y* Sur4. in- vestml, though wee believe it not very cheap, yet suppose it not extraordinary dear, the weav- ours charges of 5 p. cent enhancing yj? price, w£^ cannot yet be removed, they at first wanting incouragemi. to their repair hither ; but besides that, wee have hopes to make cloth cheaper then hitherto effected, there having not been any Factours who have had judgem.V to oversee such a work, and dayly to superintend y± weavours, but have been forced to confide in yl Bro- ker, who perhaps may be as honest as others, yet few or none of that profession, if business be wholly intrusted to them, but will pay y ILselves extraordinaryly for their paines. Whereas wee doe now intend W-i wee can procure fitting persons (yi Island being at present in great want of able Factours) to set them over the weavours who shall deliver out the cotton by weight, learning how many threads go into every peece, receiving it againe by weight and tale of threads, & allowing so much p. pe. for weaving according to its finesse, we]j is but a small matter & easily learnt, and there can be no deceit or over-reaching, and this wee esteem a very necessary work, for wee have great hopes to give yo L Hon™ much satisfaction in yl increase of the cloth investment on yl Island, though we find it difficult to induce weavours to leave their anncient habitations, it being inbred in all people to esteem no place like home. Yet if wee doe not fall out wth, Sevagy wee dare promise 3 times the quantities as this yeare sent ; wee are induced to say if no quarrell happen between us & Sevagy, because wee shall be forced to make y *_ greatest part on y fr other side of the Bay, about 20 miles of up yf river of Salset, where wee have got together a good parcell of weavours whom wee cannot yet perswade to come over, though have hopes in time to effect it. However y4_ 5 p. cent. wcJl wee now put upon y«L cloth for weavours will be taken away, instead of w*. wee must pay 2 p. cenl to Sevagy, and perhaps 2 or 3 p. cen_L more for charges, yet if wee pi 15 p. cenf it will bear lesse yilyl expences of any factory, but yi.it will be objected yl cloth is bought by y±_expence cheaper then the Island cloth, to w^ wee answer that wee have yet probable hopes to equallize the cheapnesse of other factorys cloth, for besides the reason above given wee have hopes to have o -I cotton yarne come cheaper to us then yet hitherto it has done, so that at leastwise to make it stand in competition or surpass any of the Guzzarat cloth, if not come very neare yf. prizes of Rajapore and Carwar.

Wee have lately disposed of pretty good quantities of Europe goods, 2000 nt* of Iron, 1000 m?8 of Lead and 150 p5 of Broadcloth, 200 p"f of Boudy, & 50 p* of red Perpetuanas, besides are b 1255—31

122 BOMBAY LETTERS.

dayly selling of y4 old remains of Perpetuanas, of w?}L wee have almost 300 p£l by us, but most of them sadly dammaged by wormes, and carelessnesse ; if possible wee will put y2H off though at low rates before y± next ships arrive. OJL Norwich stuffs goe off pretty well, partly to yt. Portii- gueze, but most upon the Island, the vent of w^l wee doe much incourage by wearing it for the most part o_L selves. The greatest part will in a short time be disposed off, & doe believe may be able to sell 1 00 pii yearly, y iL being no commodity for the natives, nor coloured cloth, of w^l a small quantity will be sufficient. Wee will likewise induce all y£ officers and souldiers to appeare every muster day in a red coat, & doe intend to make all people who receive pay of the CompiL take a coat or two yearely, wc}] will incensibly carry off a good quantity. 0 * iron wee are forced to sell at neare prime cost, by w!*. wee shall be able to dispose of great quantities, for then it will spoile y*. vent of countrry iron becoming almost as cheap, & is far more beneficiall then for yo.1 HonJiL to send over so much ready mony. 0_I lead wee sold at y* Suri. price, but yil wee save yf^custome and charge, & bring trade & credit to y i. port. Our cloth wclL was the coursest bales at 3£ p. yi_ time, Body at 2§ reaper yjL, & red Perpetuanas at 1£ n^ same time to receive it by the tillet. Wee expecting the ship "Formosa" from China will Japan copper, shall dispose of all oJ. plates w** is 329, that copper which is in barg being only propper to make pice, being lesse losse & y± plates selling here for more.

We are getting up or fourth and last Bastion, and indeed the best, but it is very difficult work, being so far in the sea y*__ wee can only work on ye_ foundation at new moon springs, and then but 2 or 3 houres in a day for 4 or 5 dayes. Wee have got both sides pretty well up to high water mark, & next spring hope to finish ye_ foundation of all, after wc]L wee shall quickly run it up, & then wee want only finishing y?_ Ditch and a Ravelin w4* the 2 home works if they shall be found iyecessary, wcJi will make yi_ Ffort one of yi- strongest in India.

Wee have y8_ yeare re°4 some large guns of 60 w*_. each but they are not so proper for our ffort, wanting length, for therein lies y*. advantage a ffort has of shipping by being able to sinck a ship w* her long Guns ere she can approach to batter w*L no ships deck is able to receive, or endure, ye_- reverse whereof, wee suppose it very necessary for defence of the Island fort for yor Honrl_ to send out 20 or 25 Guns of 18 & 22 foot long each w°JLwould likewise be a terrour to all people.

Herew^L goes a Petition of the Widdow of yoL_ late Judge !£*„. George Willcox, he having rec^ no sallary here for the time that he was Judge here. She therefore begs yo*_ HonriL to consider her condition & order her ye_ paymL of wl_ convenient sallary yor__ horJL shall deem her husband may have merited.

Wee likewise herewith send our Consultation Book & Coppy Bookes of Lett™ w* a roll of all ye_ English on yeTr Island, & a list of all yor. ... Honli houses w4^ their dimensions, & y?_ materialls they are made of w*. y*_ prime cost of y e_ Court of Judicature, Hospitall, & Mint. Our Books of AccotsL are unfinished, and indeed there hath been no body here to doe them, yor_ late Bep'y Govern1, M"\_ Gyffard dying of a lingring distemper w?l incapacitated him to all buisines for many monthes, so that John Petit, who was likewise under a violent distemper, was forced to dedicate ye_ most part of y*. time sickness would permit him to use, to officiate in his stead, notwth standing w':hr they should have been finished were ye__ acco*^. but rightly stated & in good method, but the bookes are full of nothing but errours & false acco*_L ; there has been no acco^ given in of ye_v warehouse these 4 yeares ; sevu acco^i. re mayning upon ballne time out of mind, & in ye.^ whole a genL. confusion, so that there will want a great deal of care, assiduity, & time to bring y«_ books into due order & method.

Wee have before took occasion to speak of yl_ bad neighbourhood wee enjoy from y^_ Portugueze. In ye_. month of Aprill last from a small begining there had like to have succeed- ed a quarrell between us and y'JL of no meane consequence. It happened that one of their ffrigats gave chace to a merch^ ship of Callecut, wSL making his escape came for shelter under

BOMBAY LETTERS. 123

our ffort. The CapL. of y!_. ffrigat demanded yl_ delivery of yl_ ship up to him, who upon o^. refusall makes his complaint to yi_ Capt'L_ Gen'|. of Bassin, Manoelde Saldanha, who, l)eing of a fiery nature, apprehended so great an affront in it, that he immediately came hurrying to Bandora w*L ahout 1000 men ; wee may say so many in number but for service just only fitting to run away upon looking an enemy in the face, being taken up from y° _._ Plow & the Palmars ; & so aggravated & resolved he seero/L. to be that he made publique protestations never to returne w^Lout surrendry of ye__ vessell or an equivalent satisfaction. There happened to be some Englishmen at Bandora who went over to buy some necessaries, whom one of his Capt™. fell foul of, beat y?L cruelly & killed Serjeant Southerland. Ye— Capt^. Gen11 indeed disowned y!__ action however, being performed by his ministers wee could doe no lesse yn_ demand satisfaction for yl_ murder & affront. The y"r Dep'y. GovL_ lay desperately sick of a flux & hestick feavour, so that John Petit went up to Mahim taking w"\ him a Division of the Garrison Comp™ , ye_ Militia of Bombay w*1l a 100 Bandareens, and about 100 Moores of yL. Island w*Ji ye_- Militia of Mahim amounted to about 500 men. Yl_ Captn__ Genn . finding oI_ readines to receive him, & y*_ his menaces had not operated to that height as he imagined, became something calmer. His demands were first for y!_. delivery of yi_ ship to him, pretend- ing she was his lawfull prize, having almost taken her, & yi_ wee ought not to protect the enemies to ye__ Crown of Portugall. Wee in answer laid before him by many argumta. how contrary it was both to reason, justice & the custome of all Europe to deny protection to y?__ ves- sells or subjects of any Prince in amity w*Jj oL_ King of the Zamorine yL was. He long persever- ed in his first demands, offering many weake reasons for his justification, but finding us resolute in or_ first determination, and that small effects were to be expected either from his threats or force, descended to desire of us to keep yi_ ship in our custody till he could write to y£_ Viceroy, & wee likewise advise our PresidL., wcL. wee likewise told him wee could not consent to, for by w*L pretence or reason could wee make prisoners of our Allies or how could wee justifie ourselves to ye__ Zamorine for such an action & that wee had alwayes ye_ Presid*L order to doe no injustice, so that it was desiring us to break one order to wait for another. Finding nothing would prevaile w*!l us he was at length contented as a poor salve to his credit to desire only of us y!L wree would not send any Frigats out in her convoy, & y*_ he would send to the Viceroy for his order herein, & in the meane their Frigat should ride" without to await her motion ; but all y!_. could not hinder him from being derided of all strangers for his bravados & effectles threats, protestations, & even condemned of folly, rashness by yi. Portugall Fidalgos, & all ye_ Padrees. In the meane time wee forgot not to demand satisfac- tion for the death of Serjeant Southerland & beating or__ men, for ye_. w0}1 & for w*_ other dammages might accrue by these his unjust proceeding wee drew up a protest against him. For yoL,- Hon™ more perticulr_ satisfaction wee herew% send coppy of si. ptest \vth, all y_l papers wcl* past between us. According to order M?L West & Ml. Selater are sent home, who goe on y*„ " Society."

Among yl_ severall stores sent out wee find not any for shipping, wcl! are not only abso- lutely necessary but not here to be procured, as compasses, lantornes, pilots instruments, log lines, saile, needles, & ye^_. like, yl_ overplus of wc^. wee can at any time sell to advantage. There is more great cordage sent out yearly y*V is serviceable to us, orT expence being for yj? most part of yl_ small coir cables and basse rs being as strong & as serviceable as English, but for small jigging it is very gouty & unhandy & requires more hands in a ship >n_ wn_ English rigg'd, and y*L most necessary cordage is small lines ^ inch & |- inch rope for ratlings & top gallant rigging for or_ small vessells, & small cordage is likewise most propper for sale.

Mr_. West goes home a prisoner for debt due to M ,rr Bonithon deceased, who would not be induced to make any end thereof or leave any atturney to it. Ml'_ Gore in England is wee

124 BOMBAY LETTERS.

suppose the deceaseds overseer, whom his Assignes here have advised of it, & wee thought fitting to give yo!L Hon™ this notice thereof.

Herewith goes a Petition of yl_ widow of Capt^_ Shaxton deceased, he having farmed the 1 p. cen*_ custome for yT__ ffortifications in which he pretended to have rece<*. a considerable loss, in the which she begs your Hono™ favourable charity & to weigh her present necessities and charge.

Wee find yor-; Hon™__ to be at a very great and unnecessary charge yearly in unproffi ta- ble medicines sent out, many of w°h & those of great price lye here & rot, & many wee can here p. cure at a sixth part of the price. The Physition & Chyrurgeon have therefore here- w*Jl sent lists of wL. simple medicines & plaisters cannot here be procured or made wS|* will amoL. to a very small matter, & yet be better furnished then ever wee were yet.

Wee call not to mind ought else but y%. presentation of ol_ reall services, assuring yor Honr.5_ wee shall in all things endeavour to approve ourselves

Hon"! S"L. & S» , It pleased God to take Colo1!. Bake Yo*_ Hon™ most faithfull

out of y«_ world y!L. 13* p.sent, dying £ most'obedient Servants,

of an acute feavour. JOHN PETIT

CHARLES WARD. FRANCIS DAY. JOHN HORNIGOLD. Bombay, y*_ 24th- JanH. 1676

7'

Honol^ &c%. .

Wee have by us unanswered 4 of yoL Hon™ &(£-. of the 26*^. and 31"i. Ja»L , l!i & 3d _ Feb1_, to w^ wee shall now respond.

' Tis now effectles to tell yor__ Hon*,. &c?% the great disappointmt, y!. whole Island lies under by y%~ Europe ships not touching here. Since w*_, is past cannot be recalled, & wee must be contented w* oTr lot, please to order whether Mr_ West & ML_ Selater shall be sent home in y*. Bantam ship, and whether y!_ Comp^L slaves shall be sent for SL Hellena in her : there is 3 of them.

Wee doe prosecute the recovering of Sevagys debt wL lies in oL_ power. Narransunwy has p.cured 100 car betlenuts, about 200 Mora Batty, & is promised a good quantity of coconuts. Wee are sensible he does not manage yL affair to y%_. best advantage, but seeing he has recovered some- thing, wee had best stay and try ye_ uttermost of wL he can recover, & y5_ let Ml, Child goe on to endevour to get in the rest, W*. if he cannot effect wee shall then have recourse to your last order of seizing upon what vessells wee can meet with belonging to his countrey.

Mr_- Oxinden arrived here y 1_ 6^. Febr.y and departed y£. next day. Y*. " Phoenix " was ready before he came & had put a frieght of corne on her to Rajapore to help to bear her charges ; she sailed the next day after. On her wee laded the 500 chickeens rec:d_ of Mr_ Oxinden, & consigned them to M\_ Bourchier &°_* advising y 51 w^L yor_HonF &ca„ ordered us concerning her dispatch. Ml_ Child remaines still here, not being able to cornpleat his business in so short a time, but expects y%_ "Hoy" down here shortly, on whom he intends to take his passage for Rajapore.

Mr. Mansell Smith has taken upon him yl_ acco^ of y!L_ Island, Ml. Ward having formerly refused them.

Mora is a corruption of the Marathi muda, which is a measure of grain, especially batty, one muda being < qual to twenty-five Bombay maunds.

BOMBAY LETTERS. 125

Wee have now sold all oT_- rents much better yn expected The new rent of Oyle &c\. wee were fearfuil would not have sold for halfe yL. price, but it went off for as much as last year w^lin 60 XL.. YL. Arrack rent is increased 60 XL.. YL Tobacco rent wee were sensible yL renters got nothing in yL. la3t year, & yL. year tobacco is near cen1. p. ecu1, dearer, so y'_ it will cost y™_ 4 or 5000 XL. more in tobacco yL yL. last year, w^L must all come out of the rent, so y*.. wee were fearfuil it would fall much. To save w^ in part, wee put it to sale for 2 yeares, for it would be a discredit to yL Island to have a rent fall, and dis- courage future bidders, who examine not so much for how many yeares, as for how much a year it is sold, but it went off for 20850 Xl_, wc_|Lis 450 Xi_ more yL. last year. Our Customes wee looked upon in a standing condition, for though yL- CompL will not make 20000 X»__: of yL,year they took of from Mr _ Burges, yet wee supposed the Customers might have got some small matter, though not enough, to incourage y™ to a next yeares bidding ; & if it remaines in yL Comp»JL hands it is not 2000 XL. will pay expenses of yL factours besides their sallary, and yL. they will be obliged to gratifie more people in giving away Customes yl. wL. it is rented, neither will any person take that care and diligence in anothers concerne as in his owne ; & because of some alterations made in ye_ Customes this year wee put in the two passage boats of Malum & Syon \v,:h will not amoL to 100 X"_ this year, and the same guards & Purvos yL. look after ye_ Customes for the same charge can receive yL_ passage boats rent, & likewise put it up for 2 yeares (w0!1. wee are informed is yL_ only way to increase the rents), yet wee did not expect any great rising, but it was carried by Ranga Delvy for 30250 Xi_, w?L is 3250 XL. more then the last year.

Wee have yl_ promise of halfe a score silk Weavours to come and inhabite here, but w*£ this condition that yL. CompL. build y1?. houses and be obliged to take all their silks off for 3 yeares, but wee are thinking of a better medium if yoL, HooL, so approve thereof. Their silks wee dare promise yE_ shall goe off without troubling yL_ CompL., wi^ wee can ingage persons now to doe, but there will be no such occasion, there being more consumed & bought up here then they can make, & for their houses let there be halfe a XL. custorae put upon each peece, wsJ1 in a short time will reimburse yL CompL. for wi they shall lay out. Please to send yor_ orders concerning yJL particular.

It pleased God yesterday to bring in yi_ "Formosa" ffrigate from Eymoy in China, & supposing she may be long a turning up, wee have herew$S sent coppy of her Invoice & yL factours letter to yoL Hon? . She has been 15 weeks on her passage, and touched at no place. She is not full laden, but undoubtedly her cargo will turn well to accoL. There will be 50 p. cent, got upon yL very Gold, wc^L wee believe is as much as y_L Dutch got from Japan, & they expect to get all goods as cheap there as if they were setled on Japan, the Countrey Merchants bringing y™ cheaper yn_ ye_ Dutch can buy there. Wee shall only take out all her Copper, some Sugar, & Surgar-candy for or_ winter stores. Wee have ingaged yL Cosset to make hast, supposing yoL_ HonL,. may intend to send y»_. Sugar, Sugar -candy, and Tutonag for Persia on the u Scipio African." She wants water and provisions, but will saile on Monday.

The 18*4- y • "Returne" came to an anchor about noone in yL-. Port, but being in want of sevlL provisions will not saile till tomorrow.

M_*. Child has promised to pay in some mony on ML. Grays accoL_, wSlL w°_ recL. shall pay it into the Comp^ Treasure, and pass a bill on yor. IIonr.. &c»_ for it Mr__ France has reciL nothing of him. Wee have not to add but subscribe

YouL,. IIon!l. &cL_ most faithf ull Serv^L, Bombay yt^ 17*. Feb%. 187 6_

7 b 1255-32

126 BOMBAY LETTERS.

Hono^f &c!_

Wee just now reel, your Hon™_ &cL_ briefe letter by Matthias, which asks no other answer.

Ml_ Child yesterday came to us, and desired justice of us in a case of debt which he pre- tends yeT Judge owes him, and refuses payment. The debt is said for mony reci of ML Richl Francis deceased by M'_ Ball deceased, which mony ML. Child being impowered by the administratours of the Mr_ Francis as their attorney, demands of ye Judge as Executour of ML. Balls Will by virtu of the marriage between y*_ Judge & Ml_ Balls widdow. M_L Child did wholly refer himself e to us, but the Judge it seems mistrusting our integrity & justice, ylL. wee would either give a partiall sentence or else take upon us to decide controversies not under our authority to determine, under wf£ notion he pretended his case was, did appeal to a higher power, though wee had thought our carriage hitherto, both to ye_ world & him, might have been a sufficient motive to have induced him to believe us not so in just as to take upon us to give sentance in matters above our power or given to partiallity. However wee well knowing yL. Judge to be but an officer under oL. power, & subject to oL determinations, should have proceeded to have given verdict according to OL. consiences, but considering Ml Child was one of yor_ Hon™_ &cl_ Grand Councell and not sent hither to reside & assist us here, who though subject to yl_ laws of England of whom wee are immediate Judges on yL- Island, yet not subject to yL- necessary processes of law of any inferiour Court to yoL_ HonL &£? Councells ; and w^out due & legall proceeding w!_ desitioncan be made ; yL_ conse- quently not in oL power to doe him justice in yL_ case, so have referred y!L to yoL. HonJ?. &LL to make their several! applications as they shall think best.

John Petit is upon adjusting w^ Ml Smith yL errours in yL Mallabars acco^, but they want the 3 first pair of Billiapatam books from November 1609 to Aprill 1672, w* please to order to be coppied out, sent us so soon as may be.

Wee formerly advised of some persons having had intentions to venture of securing a considerable peece of the overflown lands, but they deny to pay any other rent to yL Comp » yL a bare acknowledging & to have yL peece simply for ever, they pretending yL though those y$ have taken in litle patches pay a small rent fee, yet it benefits nothing to yL other overflown grownd, but they intend to take in a p5? from side to side w£^ will stopp yL whole breach way, and consequently less charge to who ever undertakes yJ rest, but a great charge to them who must secure their land from y L water on both sides. Please to order us how wee shall p.ceed in it.

Wee have not to add but subscribe

Bombay y± 8lA March 1676 YoL Hon™ &ci most Faithfull Servants.

7' "__

Hon^ &L

The enclosed is wi was intended by yL Europe shipping, but it was thought that yi loss of their voyage might be hazarded by touching here, soe yL yL whole Island was soly disap- pointed from sending any lettL8. to Europe. However yL " Persia MLchL," on whom these take their passage, touching here in her way to Bantam, wee hope will arrive safe to England before the ships are sett out for these ports.

It would be a very gratefull thing to the whole Cytty if your HonI! would be pleased to send out a great Clock and a large bell wSi will not only be very satisfactory, but also very usefull to all.

YoL HonrL were pleased to send us out three butts, wee must needs say, very excellent wine, but wee find it will not p.serve well in caske, but in 6 or 7 moi3 is apt all to spoyle, and before y • yeare is out, neare one hfl leakeage in three, w^1 might all be prevented if yoL HonEi would

BOMBAY LETTERS. 127

be pleased to put it up in bottles wyered, w^ y « very leakeage would more then pay for. Wee have been forced hitberto to o!L sorrow to put yol Hon""^. to some cbarge of wyered wine to en- tertayne strangers, o!! owne being not drinkable ; be pleased to add yearly 30 gall?, of Ilenisb <fc 30 of Clarett wine, one hh± of wine wineager and 20 gall_? of very good sallet oyle, yl two last being p.tly for medicines and p.tly for other expenses. Whoever yoL ships come not out full laden wee think it would be very necessary to fill up remaynder w^' sea coal, wf* will not only be necessary stores of fireing in case of a seige or warrs w*!1 o* neighbours, but be as usefull upon any other occasion as these country coals, being in a manner as cheap.

Wee can dispose of 40 or 50 small guns yearly to very good proffit, but lett not the biggest be above 8 or 9 weight of w^!1 lett 25 or 30 be from one to 3 °7 weigbt each, and about 20 or 30 small anchors from 4 to 5£. weight each. Wee have according to our usuali custome exposed to sale the annuall rents of yo L. Island Wi'i were bought far better then ol expectation, for yl. Tobacco rent, w.^ w* yl roagueingand cheating of yi Siddys ffleete, and the dearnes of Tobacco this yeare, being neare double the price of the last, w°2} must all come out of yl. rent, wee expected undoubtedly it would fall, but it advanced 450 X?r, being sold yi yeare for 20600X1, and the Custome advanced 3250 Xl, being sold for 30250 Xi. The Arrack rent & new rent of Oyle continues as last yeare. Wee shall likewise put the rest of all yol lands to sale, w5^ will be farr more proffitable then to keep y ™ in yol Hon™ hands, for wee can oblige yl Tennants to deliver all or wJL batty wee shall want for the use of ol Garrison Stores at a certayne rate, or at the markett price. Wee heave some credable reports that there is Peace concluded between Savajee and the Mogull, though dare not absolutely affirme it, though some of our servants that are now come from up the hill say that there is free egress and regress out of Savagys into yl Mogulls dominions w^out the least manner of hostdlity. If soe wee have hopes to open a trade directly up the country, wfjjl in time may much advance yol customes and increase yl trade and splen- der of your Island.

The " Formosa " Frigott touched here yl. 17^ Feb'? in her way to Surratt, out of whom wee tooke all the copper being but 157 chests, w!* is very wellcome to us, wee haveing not a barr left to keep yol mint imployed. There will be gained 80 p. cent on yi. bare copper & about 20 p. cent, more by melting it. Wee could dispose of about 2000 chests in a yeare besides sup- plying Surratt and yol other Factoryes, soe (at yl same rate yl copper cost) 2000 chests will yeild ahout 70000 rupl proffitt. Wee tooke a shoare only 26 pecull of Allome for a tryall w5^ have sould for 2| rupl p. Bombay m'l, w^ is 10 rup!_ p. pecall, w^ cost as p. Invoyce not 3£ rupl. Wee have not more to add worthy yol Honoil notice, soe period with the presentation of our reall services, and in all ol actings shall endeavour to merit the esteeme of

HonM? Sir and Sirs,

Your honol? most Ffaithfull & obedient Servants. Bombay, yL 19* March 1676

T

Worshipfull,

Having received order from yl. Hon^f Presidl and Councill in Surrat to send such slaves of yl Hon^0 Com*,, as wee have heare to their Island of Si Hellena, these are to advise you y*. wee have put on board yl Shipp "Persia Merchant," four men slaves, & here inclosed send you y 1 Capt'li receipt of y£», y * there may be noe demurre wl you make demand of them, and yi w$ ol kinde sallutes, is all that offers worthy yol notice from

Bombay, ye. 19* March 1676 Yol very affectionate Ffriend.

Y

128 BOMBAY LETTERS.

HonW? &cl.

Wee have by us two of yol, Hon™ &cl unanswered, datiL yl 12^? and 20*5 March, reci by the " Persia Merchant " and " Hunter " Ffrigat, to w^ wee shall now respond.

All yi. persons & things ordered by yol Honl. &cl were put aboard yiL "Persia Merchant," & sufficient provisions laid in for y5 slaves.

Ml- Child will imbarque aboard y^ " Hunter " so soon as ever she has got her provitions aboard, w£?? will be tomorrow or next day. Wee have asked him concerning Ml. Admans accoi!, who does aver y 1 charge upon Ml Adman to be just ; & yi wi. yiL buisines was brought be- fore yol HonL. &cl Councell it was made appear yl Ml Chowne had given Mil Adman cre- dit for wi the Moody had laid out on ffortifications, as by comparing the perticulers of yl Moodys acco^? w^ Mil Admans, wS? were the same, for Mi; Adman alwayes took an acco*. of yl Moody for wl he expended on ffortifications & kept a Book apart for it, w2l? being then made so plain it was ordered in Councell to be entered, & if yol Honl so pleases it may stand in yl same manner, w<^ wee imagine to be y5 rightest.

"Wee have taken Ml Henry Smith into y* office, and as wee find his ability shall make his sallary accordingly.

Wee shall now make upyl accoi. of Ml Burgeses customes & advise yol. Honl. exactly how much it is indeed. Wee know no reason y 1 Compel should be such loosers. What mony wee reci. is duly and truly entered, & more wee cannot make then w*. wee receive.

Wee are not unmindf ull of inviting cloth weavours so well as silk, but it is very difficult procuring y^. There is a parcell at Bimurly, who have promised to weave us a good p.cell of cloth y * yeare. Wee shall try if wee can win ylL over by degrees.

Wee have d^ CaptiL Bowers a receipt for his passengers & to Mil Hornigold & Mi. Thoml Peptit their Commissions, who received them with all thankfullness.

Wee shall give our accoi curri credit for the two chests of fruit received out of the " Persia Merchant."

John Petit will now pay into yl, Compi cash the 1500 rupl. he took up towards house building, but he has not where with all in his hands to pay in Ml. Gyffards 1500 rupl,, there- fore please to demand it in Surratt of his Executours.

Wee are not unmindful of Capt_^ Usticks acc^, but they are so strangely confused and imperfect, that wee know not wi. they will be finished. Wee shall doe our best endeavours to state them aright with what hast possible.

Wee were much concerned at yl disesteem yl Surl Sheroffes put upon our rupl, having taken such great care both in their finenes & weight, wherefore wee did send for 50 Orung- zebby rupl-, & weighed y « w^ Bombay rupl., both singly & altogether, & found ol. rupl to weigh 2^ p. cent, more yl the Surl rupl wj* is as much as ever wee intended yE, w55. was a quarter of a mas. Wee did likewise touch y™ & cannot find any palpable difference. If any be y L. finest, it is the Bombay rupee, & therefore doe believe it is some roguery of those Sheroffs to abase yl value of our mony. Therefore let yol Honl. &cl be pleased to let a full experi- ment be made before your faces wit 100 or 50 of each sort.

Wee did not put Ml Valton by his imploymi w%)ut just cause, after w^ in consideration of his family did proffer him an imploymi, but it not squaring to his mind, he said he would goe up to Surl & seek a better from yol. Honol, and his behaviour in time of his keeping at Coffy house was so offensive to his neighbours, & so scandelous to all, that wee were forced to forbid it.

BOMBAY LETTERS. 129

Wee have herewith drawn a bill of exchange upon yoL Ilonf. &c% for 1593| rup* payable to the overseers of Mil Grays will, being for the like value wee have reel from Jn£ Petit w"^ was paid into him by M'r Child upon y.* said M_l Grays accoi, wi.h please to make paymi of as desired. Wee call not to mind ought else but respectfully remain

Bombay, y% 27^ March 1677. Your HonA &c± most faithful Servants.

Hon'4? &c±.

Your Hon1;?. &ci 22 £ March wee recil the 28* ditto. According to order wee have consi- dered y % Articles of Neema Parrack Bannian, w4* if wee rightly understand doe not apprehend any prejudice in their concession, yJL most of them being what the meanest enjoy.

The first is very easy, the CompfL having wast ground enough, & wee dayly doe yiL same to Bannians & others who come to inhabite here. As to the second the free exercise of reli- gion is permitted to all w *. yiL use of their ceremonies at weddings & feasts, y± Bannians &ci alwayes burning their dead w *out molestation, neither doe wee permit any person to kill any thing near the Bannians, who all live by yHLselves, much les can any person presume to enter into any bodys house or compound w*out yiL owners licence, & for forceing people to turn Christian against their wills, y?r whole world will vindicate us, neither are any persons forced to carry burdens against their wills.

No Bannian, Braminy, Moor or such man is obliged to watch or ward or other duty, but if any p.son buys an oart or warge, he is bound to send a musquiter every alaram, but if he possesses no land no duty is exacted, so. y-i article may be granted him, & wJ? he goes about to buy any land he may be accquainted w*. y4 small incumbrance thereon.

The 4*. Article is indeed a priviledge, but no more yR Girder, yl Moody & some others have, w£^ does not in yl least exempt yJH from yl hands of yl law or justice, but does only ask yl. justice be done respectfully, w^ he need not doubt of, & for matter of differences among yEselves there is already his Honll Patent authorizing y™ to decide such things.

As to yl 5* yl great anchorage of a rupee p. tun is wholly taken off ; there only remains a small one of a rupee for every 100 tun, v?cl is so inconsiderable a matter yl wee doe not believe he will stick at it ; if he does, it will amoi but to a small matter, being only for his own vessells, that y± Compl. may easily allow it.

The 6*., if wee rightly apprehend it, is no more yl wl all people injoy, who are so far from paying custome at exportation of their own goods, yl they pay none for wl goods they buy ; but if he intends his goods must pay no custome at landing nor none at exportation of wl he cannot sell, it will be so great a loss to yl. Compl, they having farmed out yl customs for 2 years, that the benefit of his setting here will wee believe not countervail it till it comes into £? CompH hands again.

As to the 7^, our law is such yl. if a person be indebted to severall men, whosoever gets a judgement first in Court will be paid his full debt, but no man can be agrieved at yl , nor can any creditour have any pretence to w± is once paid, & wJL judgmJ. is given it is already paid in law, so y± he is no longer proprietour of it ; but w£. a person is indebted to two men and y-1 first sues him, and upon yl yl second comes in & sues him to, w*. wl. justice can wee pay all yl Debt?! estate to yl second creditour. Only of this he may be assured, yl all justice shall be done him w*. speed according to ol law & the party forced to pay yl. full debt if able, & ly in prison for y •. rest till hee pleases to release him, w^ wee suppose may well content him. b 1255—33

130 BOMBAY LETTERS.

As to yl. 8Q, in case of war all persons of quality have liberty to repair to yl Castle, & secure their mony, & other things of value, not y 1 I suppose he intends to fill up yl Castle with gruf goods ; but for mony, jewels, household stuf, cloth goods of value, yl. take up small room, he may bring wl he pleases & may have a warehouse a part allotted for himselfe & family.

The 9^ and IO^l wee may join together, they being only to fill up the number. They are plain optiques to show yl nature of those they live under, w^ wl they have experimented oL Government y Eselves will laugh at us, enjoying more freedom y^ yJL very articles demand, for yl meanest person is never denied egres & regres upon respectfull notice given, & for horses & coaches and y± like he may keep as many as he pleases & his serv*! be permit- ted to wear wl arms they please, a thing common to all, & nothing is more promoted by us then y.1 free liberty for buying and selling w°l is y± load stone of trade.

That last thing he asked of having 10 mli of Tobacco free of all dutys is y_? most difficult thing of all, for y± farmers will ask a vast deal to grant such a licence, it being a very great profit they make in y.1 sale of 10 m.% so yl wee know not w9^ way y2L article can be con- discended to, but in yl yol Hon™ can judge better y_l us.

Wee were always mindful of ol cloth investmJ , w^ wee look upon to be one of o£_ prin- cipal! concerns. OJL Broker has promised to get ready in yiL place all made on yl. Island. About 6000 peeces of broad & narrow Baftas wee formerly advised of the weavours of Bimurly, who though wee cannot prevaile with yJ5 to come & dwell here, yet they have promised to supply us w^ a good quantity. Wee intend to see a muster of half e dozen peeces and accordingly proceed in it. How much wee shall get there wee are not able to advise, but shall forward yl investmi wS? all our deligence.

Wee have given oJL Accoi Curri credit for Rupi 749 : 46 Rl. paid Captl. Norgrave of whom wee shall demand an accoi.

There is nothing recovered of Sevagy for Ml Austin as yet. Wee shall not forget to make demands of it, but believe it will be long ere received.

The " Good Neighbour " has brought us from Mangalor 1407 bales of rice w^ wee have

taken a shoar, and given Carwar ffactory credit for it amounting to 435 24, there is no

frieght charged thereon, therefore leave it to yol Honl. &cl to make an agreemi wl* yJ) owners of y4 " Good Neighbour " how much to pay.

Wee sent ol Mallabar Frigat to seek for Mallabars, who has done good service, having taken 4, whereof 2 great Prows. One of yl great ones is left at Goa, one they were forced to turn a drift, one they burnt, & one they have brought up, a new clever handsome boat, wih wee intend to send out the next yeare on the same accoi .

The Pyrates at Cota took an English man in a Daman vessell who demanded randsom of Ml Bowcher, who refusing to give it, they basely set him up against a tree, and lanced hini to death.

Wee have communicated to y± Judge yol Hon ™ &c %. order to have yl mony paid into y • Treasury, w5l? is owing to Ml. Ffrances deceased, who has promised to comply therewB. Mi. Child is gone to Rajapore, whom wee shall advise as much.

Madam Isabella Young gives us this answer, y 1 yl. 73 chests were sent to Suri on y° Compl. accoi and yJL M_L Gray told her he had found most of them in yl books, but for want of her papers, w^l Mil Rolt keeps, she is able to give no other answer. Yl w^ ol respect- full salutes is w.* p.sents from

Yol Hon?:? &el most observant Servants. Bombay y± 8* April 1677.

BOMBAY LETTERS. 131

Hon"? &ci.

Wee have none by us unanswered of yor. lion™ &c*. Wee had lately an unfortunate accident befallen us, & yet wee have reason to bles God for his deliverance of us from a greater mischief. It was thus : Y. * Storekeeper as accustomary had sent up some powder to dry upon y • North East Bastian. It was about 2 o'clock in y_e. after noon w7n_ one of our Corporis by name Stanton took an old bandalier and filled it w* wild fire, intending to ty it to a dogs tail then in the Guard, & coming to the gate, the dog being not in the way, he took y_? bandalier, there being a string tied to it, & flung it towards the Judges old house, but y*. wind being very strong it blew upon y'i Bastian and fired all the powder, which was 35 barrells all English. There was 8 Coolys tending it, & one centry, who were all burnt to death, whereof 6 blown into yl ditch and the Parade, & some limbs blown over yt ffort. The blow was so great, much of y t powder, it being in a heap together, that it blew open all the doors of the magazines in y%. ffort though well locked ; nay, blew open y£ doors of the rooms under the second lodgings, and made most part of the town shake. It sunck y<L Tarras, a small matter of the bastian, but has done y± arch underneath no damage. Wee had this day a Councell of war upon the Corporall, and haveing examined all witnesses & circumstances, there several! that saw him make the fuse and fling it, wee could not find him guilty of any wilf ull treacherous designe, but considering he was an officer into whose hands our lives are all sometimes intrusted to be so wretchedly careles, he being but a little before come of the bastian himselfe, wee cashiered him from ever more bearing arms, and to run the gantlet three times, for an example to all.

Our souldiers doe humbly beg your Hon™ &*_ to take into consideration the los they receive in the mony is paid them, w^ onBujerooks is near 30 p. cent and on Dugonys 16 or 18 p. cent.

Our Troopers likwise beg some small augmentation to their pay, they wearing out more cloths then a foot souldier, and must provide y™ selves with short boots against the rains. Wee have likwise gave them no answer.

Wee expect yi. " Phoenix" dayly, but so far as wee can understand without any freight.

Herewith goes an accol of Customes farmed by M* B urges, on w£t is far more losse then wee calculated, for deducting charges and loss there comes no more into yi Comp8! cash then X* 21479 c. 2 reis 14 : but though Mj; Burges was cleared of the Customes, he was not cleared of the passage boat of Sion, w°Jl wee make him stand D* for, not finding he has p<* any mony into the Treasury on y * acco*, yoJL Hon* &c» may please to demand it of him. Wee have not to add but y ® subscription of

Yoj; Hon™ &c» most faithfull Serv*

Bombay yL 10* April 1677.

Hon"? &c»

Wee have by us unanswered yor; Honll &c» of y± 19* and 26* May, of y £ 4!£, 7* & 13* June, to all W* wee shall now respond.

Wee shall charge Thomas Admans debt as ordered & pay y% Moody y° full amount of his acco*! to whom yL Comp" have been greatly in debt a long time. Wee expect ill Child here dayly, whom wee shall p.swad to take some paines in y^ business, & try whether he can clear y* accol., for undoubtedly Thomas Adman had sufficient to pay all his debts, if his acco*i were duely adjusted.

The coppie of M* Grays last Will & Testament wee have caused to be registered in yi Court. Herew*. send 3 coppies w* yi. seale of the Court annexed to y™, y«L charges of y£ Court the DepU Govi will satisfie.

132 BOMBAY LETTERS.

The letters for Sevagy & Mora Pundit wee have not yet sent forward, y.1 new moone having brought soe violent a raine & wind y± there is noe travelling. Wee expect faire weather in 2 or 3 dayes, or at least something more moderate & y° shall send y££. Ml. Child writes y* Sevagy is in a Castle of King of Golcandah, where he intends to winter, & after yfL raine 'tis thought intends against Carnatick. Sever 11. of yi Deccan Umbras are joined w^ him, & tis believed Caun & he have agreed to share all between y™. All y ° Deccan country is soe miserably harrassed, y* Ml. Child does not expect to p.vide a pJL of goods yj! year, & wee believe Carwarr to be in little better estate. Mora Pundit has been lately to visit y*. northern garrisons of Saliere &c%. & is now past by & gone to Rairy, where wee shall be sure to find him. Wee had thoughts of sending some discreet Serjeant thither, but wee could not pitch upon one of ability enough for such a employing, besides upon second thoughts wee did find yi Capt 5 Keigwyns charges will not amount to a penny more y° if yf, meanest officer were sent, soe y.5 wee are resolved to send him & Cox Cunney, who is a better & more creditable spokesman in y ?, country y J? y.£ Moody. Wee shall order yj? to make strict inquiry into y° whole estate of Sevagys country, & where his armys ly quartered.

Concerning yj? dearnes of Bombay cloth wee can only say yf y* yt Broaker lays y* fault in y± dearnes of yl_ cotton yarne w?^ was always ye, Compl & invoiced at 2 Rupl or 1| Rup_i

p 1*. more yi it was worth, or more y 5. he could provide it for in Pattan or Rajapore. He

likewise complaines much of yfL dearnes of this Rajapore yarn now sent. Wee shall make w *. pt are upon y«L loom & already wove, & w^ yarn is already made into lengths foryJL waste of y± cloth cannot be remedied, but wl is made in y_? Suture shall be but 20| covets long.

We shall not faile to be assistant to Mirza Massiims Noquodah upon all faire occasions and have already much contributed to his wants.

Robert Tayler is returned w* 12 horses, but very dear considering their smalnes, standing in nearest 100 RupJL a horse. YfL Compii can buy horses cheaper in Persia, & if y_i " Returne" goes for Persia, she can bring 6 or 10 horses for little or noe charge, w<* will be of service & credit, many of yJL horses wee have being soe small, y_* they will never be able to doe us any service.

The " Scipio" & all yfL Compi. ships shall be ready fitted in August for any voyage shall be appointed jri*. Wee are of yof_ HonLf &cJL opinion, y± it will be highly necessary both for the benifitt & honoiL of yfL CompJL y.* Alle Rajah & yiL pirates be made sensible of those affronts put upon us. Wee suppose y 1 charge will not be great. Here is y.1 " Revenge " & " Hunter" who will hardly get ffreights, & are at a standing charge to yJL Comp±, yJL Coman- ders, all the officers, & some seamen being continually kept a board y_HL, yJL wee believe they will not stand in above 100 or 150 Rup|_ p. month more being at sea y "L now haled up, & suppose those 2 ships and y fL. 2 Mauchvas will be sufficient. Besides if y±. designe be managed w^ discretion, yJL prizes they take may for y er greatest part defray the charges. 20 ffiles of souldiers in all will be sufficient, or if wee cannot spare y*L, 16 ffiles will serve. For officers to comand yfL souldiers wee have choice sufficient, but there will want an able prudent person to Comand in Chief, who has had experience of India, for y± business will not be to goe down, & make what havock, destruction, & slaughter can be effected, but as yo f, Hon!. &c± rightly observes, there must be respect had to time to come, & y± carrying on a more free & honblf< trade in those part for yl future. In one hand yf_ sword & in y_l other an olive branch. And if possible to obtain e yi: excellent point of making love & feare together, wf£ may be effected by avoiding generall cruelties, or y_? totall ruine of any one place by making those yi| mark of oJl anger, who to y t. knowledge of all people have plainly affronted us, by being extra- ordinary civill to all those who have still been o L ff riends & to manifest our intentions of

BOMBAY LETTERS. 133

imbracing all hon^? proffers of peace, whereby wee may hereafter live unmolested in of. trade. YoL Hon™ &c_^ are better able to pitch upon a flitting p.son to manage yl designe yJL wee. Y-? " Soipio" may be very useful! though she stay not long there, but wee think it very necessary yl "Hunter" be sent downe in y*. beginning of August, otherwise she will never meet wlh Alle Rajahs ships from Mocha, & in yl mean time our recruits will come from England and wee can fit up y • rest.

Upon Ensigne Thorps petition to us, wherein he promises more circumspection and care in the future, and commisserating the great charge of his ffamily, wee have given him his Comis- sion againe.

There was lately a Braminy & 2 or 3 more who came over from Batty proffering their service to y.2 Siddy, y4 if he would employ y^ they would bring him some prisoners of quality. He was willing to imbrace y % offer, but yet so cuning as not to appeare in y* action ; soe y 1 he would not furnish y™ w* any of his owne boates or men, soe they hired a Bombay ffisher boat & souldiers from y £, Island & went over to Batty & brought thence 4 Braminys prison™ , being yl. principle men of yl place & put y5L a board yl Siddys ship. It was not long before wee had a message from yl Subedar of Chaul complaining of yl. unneighbourly abuse wee had suffered to be done to him, even by y± inhabitants of Bombay demanding y • restitution of those prisoners, wc*L if not p.formed there should not a stick of wood or any thing else be suffered to be brought from y4 Maine to Bombay & y± the ffriendship between us was broke. Wee immediately sent to yl Siddy taxing him severely w*t yl unfriendly dealing, but he pleaded ignorance to all. However, wee got y_° prisoners from him, whom wee freed ; wee likewise got yl Cooly who was Muckadum of y°. boat & 10 more of the rogues, dwellers on yl. Island, who were all condemned to be hanged, but wee pardoned 8 & executed 3. Those 8 are y!_ Compl slaves, whom wee shall put a board the Europe ships, to be sent to SI Hellena, w*h a Bandareene who was condemnd for ffellony, whose Ufe wee p.doned likewise.

On yl 24* instant Lieu_t Richard Adames departed yl. life, & was interred at Verolvee, according to his desire, on the 26^1 in the morning.

By yl Pattamarr wee returne the three paire of Callecutt bookes, haveing taken tran- scripts of him.

Wee allso send you y_? copies of yl transactions of the 3 last Sessions in ol Court of Judicature for yoJL greater satisfaction in all publique affaires on yl. Island. Wee tender ourselves w*^ respect subscribeing

Your Hon™ &c* most obedient Servants. Bombay y± 271* June 1677.

Honorable.

Wee cannot rightly expres yl. reallity of our grief wee conceived at yA perusall of y± deplorable news of the death of our late noble Presidl.. Multiplicity of words may multiply y_l sence of our loss, but cannot depaint its greatness & y .« knowledge wee have of yJj true worth and integrity of his successour, & it shall be our continuall prayers for a blessing on your great affairs.

Both the Judge & all the Commission Officers of the Island had their Commissions signed only by the late Presidl w£?L are now become invalid, concerning w°4L wee wait yo_l HonP &c» further orders. In the meantime wee have ordered that all the Souldiers pay the same obedience b 1255—34

134 BOMBAY LETTERS.

to their officers as formerly and that the Judge and Justices of Peace act in the same capacity and station as before till wee receive your HonEi commands concerning them.

The late Presid± did formerly give Commissions to some of the Councell here to act as Commissioners for the Island w£^ has been long discontinued. Please to order what shall be thought convenient in it.

The rains have been so violent that wee have not yet sent Capt % Keigwin to Rairy. Wee doe not now think it convenient to send those letters of f± late Presidl to Sevagy and Mora Pundit. Please to advise whether yol Hon™ will write fresh letters to them, and what shall be done further in yl business.

All things are at present here in a peaceable and quiet posture, and it shall be our main endeavours so to continue them. Wee call not to mind ought else at present but only to subscribe

Your Hon!? faithfull Servants.

Bombay yl 11* July 1677.

Honourable,

Our last was of yl ll^1 July, coppy whereof goes here inclosed. There is a coiner in Surat by name Ruttangee, who did promise yJj late Presidl to come to Bombay, & did engage to coin oJL Dugonysfor6| Larys p. md., whereas wee now pay Lar. ...w^ will amol to considerable sum yearly if wee are but supplied w% good quantities of Copper ; & though he came to no agreeml for coining of Rupl & Bujerooks, yet he promised to make y*°L 20 p. cent, cheaper yl at p.sent they are made; besides wee are given to understand he is an able workman, which will be of great benefit in making all yl mony of a true and equall weight, w°h is very difficult to these Coiners not being bred up to the trade. Muddam Kissingees son by name Bagvandas can inform yl. Hon?! where he lives. Please to hasten him hither w*Jl all speed possible, wee being in great want of him.

The approach of the Europe shipping draws nigh, therefore please to send yol orders wl wee shall doe w'Jl the Compl packets, as likewise to yl taking ashoar of wl goods wee sup- pose y± Island may vend yl year. As to yl Treasure, wee have been in consideration yl it may redound to yl. Compl benefit to have all their silver coined on the Island, for wee hear yl yl vattaw between B'bay and Surl rupL is no more then halfe p. cent in Surl , w"* in yl. sale of the silver the very brokerage & shroffage will pay for, so yl wl is got by minting it will be clear proffit. Besides wee are given to understand yl y S. Surl rupl are now made of a courser alloy yl formerly, so yl wee believe ol rupl may shortly pas without any vattaw. For yol HonIS more fully satisfaction wee have by yl Cosset sent an ingot of silver refined just to yl alloy of ol rupl w5^ weighs 98 tolas Surl, w$ coined will give us 97^ rupl clear, paying for minting and all charges ; therefore please to try wl said ingot will yeild in Surl to sell, deducting brokerage shroffage & other charges, & by that may be seen wl p.ffit arises upon yl Mint. One thing wee are ignorant of, w2J? is whether the Govl will not oblige the Compl to mint all ol rup 1 again into Surl rupl as he does yl silver, but of yl your Hon1! can easily be informed there ; yet should it be so, wee believe merchants may be had who would undertake to remit it thither for a small matter. Wee have not else to add only to subscribe

Your HonI! Humble Servants. Bombay y% £7% July 1677. . .

BOMBAY LETTERS. 135

Honourable,

"Wee have only by us unanswered yol HonI! of the 3lul July, reci? the 10 * present, to which wee shall now respond.

Herewith goes a list of all the Officers who will want Commissions on the island, as likewise a coppy of y4 Judges Commission.

Sevajy is at present in the upper Carnatick, where he hath taken the strong Castles ol Chengy, Chengavor, Pilcundath, and severall others, and shamefully routed the Moors & tis believed has robbed Seringpatam and carried away great riches from thence, and they say he designes upon his returne back to take Beidnoor and soe join Canara to his new conquest. "When he comes back wee shall endeavour to procure his Cole upon his Generalle that may be sent to the northward ; in the mean time wee have sent to Mora Pundit & Anagy Pundit who govern in y° Rajahs absence to get their Cole for Surat and the adjacent places.

Wee shall be very carefull in following your orders concerning yl Compel packquet and taking ashoare goods and treasure w5Jl shall be no more then what wee have absolute occasion for and what wee shall be able to vend in the insuing yeare. The " Scipio" and " Returne" shall accompany the Europe shipps, or if yl arrivall of the Europe ships hapen to be late, wee shall send them up before hand.

Dunge Gorahs betlenutt shall be sent up on the " Returne" soe soone as the weather will permitt her to voyage w^ safety.

Wee have sent up one crew of Coolys overland to bring one of the Compel Shibarrs from Surat ; the rest wee shall dispatch in 3 or 4 daye3 in a Shibarr bound to Cambaya, who will touch at Swally. Wee have not a pound of corne on y e_ Island for the horses, w<£l puts them very much out of ease, therefore please to send us in one of the Shibarrs 50 Candys, our want pro- ceeding from yl Kings strict prohibition that noe corne should be carried out of his countrye.

The Commodore is much mistaken in his information, wee having not entertained 10 stran- gers all this yeare, and of those not above 3 Dutchmen, the rest either Sweeds or Germans or Walloons, w** few wee were willing to entertain as looking upon them not to be subject to sickness and mortallity as yl English.

Wee have long forbore upon just sentiments to say any thing concerning the Judge, but wee doe now find that yl good of the Island, y« content of the inhabitants & discharge of yl trust reposed in us, does inforce us to seek a prevention of these bad consequences his car- riage emminnently does threaten, whereby your Hon^ will perceive how little he hast merited the honour of soe great a charge and how dissonant his carriage has been to those rules and principles which wee had thoughte the weight and gravity of his employ would have prompted him to. To mention, yl severall slightings and plain e abuses of most of the members of this Council, w°k perhaps their charity might have obliterated had not more publique affronts wakened yl remembrance of them, his contempt of the Government, his slighting and scandali- zing our Councills and authority, the passion and prejudice which have been the masters and guide of his actions, and the generall dissatisfaction of all people w'J? him has been soe notorious, that wee cannot but imagine yl world has taken notice of it much to our prejudice. He did once say that nothing had been acted since yl Preside went off the Island ; and now lately in a case of Chancery decided by us, wherein the cause was not adjudged to his liking, he did not stick to say that he now plainly saw that any man might sweare himselfe out of a debt that would, and that a knave should never want a friend in Court, w°A wee leave to your Hon L to interpret how little master of reason, conscience wee should be and how unfitt for that great trust reposed in us should so much injustice be y %. effect of our Councills, and wee cannot but

136 BOMBAY LETTERS.

take notice y 1 yl bill exhibited to us in y±. Aforementioned cause, y± Judge hiraselfe did confesse to draw up, v?cA is full of nothing but slanders, defamations, and privately taunting his superiors action, besides how unbecomeing yl gravity of such a place & indeed how contrary to equity for a Judge to act the part of an Attourney ; in y_L face of y J whole Court tould us though wee were affraid of CaptJL Adderton, yet he was not. There was lately exhibi- ted to us a bill in Chancery against him by 12 men who were of a Jury at Justice hall who having brought in a verdict according to equity and good conscience were never the less publiquely checked and rated by y±. Judge, telling them they were men of large consciences, desiring us to exempt them in the future from the like duties excepl they can be protected in yJL free discharge of their consciences, w2?L action may be of very prejudiciall consequence ; for either Jurys will deny to be impanneld, and consequently a due & just tryall of all causes will be ommitted to be acted or else perhaps over, and to bring in y3 verdicts. Illegall coppy of both y±. bills goe here enclosed and a tryall wherein y^ same Jury had brought in judgment for yl deffendant, the Judge yet ordered y £. Clerk of the Papers to enter verdict for the plantiff for yJ cost and charges of the Court. To tell yol WorpJ how much he has suffer- ed his officers and servants to grind and oppresse yJ people may seem dubious. Whether our con- nivance merrits more blame y£ his, it is not many months since wee did in a Genlj. Letter bint our resentment of his oppinion of our partiallity, w0]1 made him appeale to a higher Court for justice in y_? buisinesse between M_f. Child and him. All these considerations being duly weighed wee found ourselves obliged, for the discharge of that trust reposed in us, to suspend his Com- mission, and have ordered that he act noe longer as Judge till wee receive your further orders concerning him ; yet if our humble advices might be credited in the perticular, that yJL generall benefit and satisfaction of yJL whole Island will be much advanced by the election of a new Judge, wee have for y4 pressent order y± remaining Justices jointly to officiate till yoi# Hon i? shall please otherwise to dispose thereof.

There is one Monardass Gunnees, a Banian in Surat, who bought some scarlet perpetuance of us, whose time being out and he having not paid in the mony, please to demand it of him there. His acco^ goes here inclosed.

CaptB Adderton has preferred a petition to yol. Hon!*., which wee here inclose, his charge in forceing him to beg some increase of his pay.

Please to advise what mony Robi Taylor sent from Orangabaud, and what mony your Hon1^ remmitted him by Exchange, that wee may know what to charge him with.

"Wee have thought convinient to elect CaptA Gary and Capii Kegwin to be Justices of Peace for the Island, for it will be highly necessary that one Justice be assistant at Mahim and

lesse then three will not be sufficient at Bombay, while there is noe Judge Of what wee have

done wee leave to your more mature Judgements, and remaine

Your Honol! Sincere Ffriends and humble Servants, Bombay y^ 20% 2 8li August 1677,

Worshipful!

Tis now severall years that the Siddys fleets have used this port as a place of refreshing and retreat on all occations, but with how much trouble to the Government and dissatisfaction to y %. Inhabitants your WorEi have been but too well acquainted with. It is but a few months past that Siddy Sambole reci? orders to surrender up the ffieet to Siddy Cossam, but he for severall months made demurrs thereon, because his wife and his children and his family were detained in Danda Rojapore, w^ he received 4 days past, upon w£^ Siddy Sambole pro-

BOMBAY LETTERS. 137

□used to deliver up the Meet excepting one of the great shipps, wch he intended to keep to carry- up himself and his souldiers to Surat, but Siildy Cossam being impatient of having part of his fleet detamed from him and Instigated b; that unadvised Sabann Cooly who oamc horn Surat ■bout 3 months past will 150 men to assist him, did on Sunday last march up wU' all his force to Massagon, where Siddy Sambole resided, ere wee were aware of it, Wee immediately sent CaptB Kcgwin w1},1 a guard of horse to keep the peace, but ere he could arrive they had begunno the skirmish and so obstinate they were, especially Siddy Cossam, that they were parted wi!.' much difficulty, having shot 4 of the Comp£ horses, whereof 1 is dead and another in great da&ger, though if pleased none of the Troopers were hurt, upon w^ wee immediately sent for Siildy Oossam to the ffort, and having expostulated w11; him (lie affront he had put upon the Govern- ment and the bad retaliation he had made us for our extraordinary civillities to him, wee disarmed all his souldiers except himselfe & 2 or 3 more, and ordered him in 4 or 5 dayes time to send all his souldiers off the Island excepting some few servants for his attendance. The like wee did to Siddy excepting those guards w^Lwere for the defence of the ship. Wee suppose the accident will soe arm your WorE resolutions so as never to conceede y± wintering of the lfleet here

againe nor to suffer any great number of men to remaine on the Island armed It would l>e of

greal consequence that your WorE made timely complaint of these outrages, not only to y4 Governour of Surat, but even to yl King himselfe, and demand large satisfaction for the death of our horses and yl disturbance of the peace of the Inhabitants and hindrance of our trade, mercts being tt'righted from coming hither by such hostile acts. Wee sent y£ Cosset on pur- pose to give your WorV'8 kindly notice that they might not be before hand w^ in a false repre- sentation of yf. action, so shall not inlarge but to subscribe

Yol Wor!^ most humble Servants, Bombay, yi 9* Odob^ 1G77.

Respected Ffriend Capt° W™ Minchin,

Wee having intelligence of 6 Ffrench ships gone towards Surat and not knowing how affairs may stand in Europe, though wee have cause to suspect y_? most, have thought convinient, to send you downe the Coast to give notice thereof to our Europe shipps that they may be the better prepared against any accident, Whcrefor wind and weather, permitting, you are immediately to weigh anchour and direct your course for the Port of Goa, where you arc to leave two letters directed to y°. Commanders of the Europe ships, and one you may deliver to the Captil of the Agoada, desiring him to send it off to the first ship shall come there, the other you may leave wth Sen l. Antonio Martins, whome wee are confident will see it safely delivered. • When this done, you are immediately to direct your course to y • Port of Carwar, where you are to deliver to M-I Oxinden our letter heerewith delivered you. When you have soe done you have not other businesse but to steer your course for this Island againe, only in your way both downward and upward you are to examine all vessells and see whither they have our passes, w* if you find, you are to treat y2 civily, letting yw prosecute y£ respective voyages without y«, least

impedi?*, molestation or dammage, but if they have not an Ejngi passe to make seizure of

vessell, goods and men, and bring them safely to Bombay, but be sure you make price of nothing nor suffer any embazelem * to be made of whatsoever is aboard till she be lawf tdly condemned here as a prize, and y° you shall be detained to receive what shall be adjudged your lawfull share. Though wee order you to examine all vessells, yet our principall intention is the chastising the Mallabarrs, whose iasolencys of late have been extraordinary k w?*! wee doe more especialy recommend to you. Wee do give you leave to spend so much time in cruising so as you may contrive to be back againe in 1^ months time, for wee know not what further occasion there

b 1255—35

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may be of you. Wee would have you as the wind permitt keep pretty neare about yJL shoare w^ your Fflag aloft, that you may be known to be an Engi, ship by all people, So wishing you a prosperous voyage, wee remaine

Your assured Loving Ffriends. Bombay, yi. 21*L. OctobL 1677.

WorE? &£?

Our last was'of y* coppy whereof goes here inclosed, since which wee have not rec.41

any from your WorE?. Wee have at length induced the two Siddys to an agreement, so that one is contented to surrender up the others wife and children and the other is contented to surrender up the Armada, so that Siddy Sambole in 4 or 5 dayes more intends to imbarque on one of two great shipps and goe for Surat, and then the other Siddy will goe on board of the ffleet. Wee were willing to be mediatour in this buisinesse that wee might be rid of them both, and if wee respect yJL good and quiett of the Island, wee have reason to wish they may never come here againe except it be for a months time to refresh and then be gon againe. Siddy Sambole had an excellent horse killed in the broil, which he values at a great price, for w9^ and all other damages he reci he demands satisfaction of us, for he pretends his hands were bound up from taking his own sattisf action, and wee must needs say he was very obedient to our orders and has liv'd at Massagon all this raines very contentedly & quietly that wee have not been troubled with any complaints of him, so that when your WorpL demands satisfaction of yl King for our horse and other damages, that Siddy Samboles damages may likewise be demanded or that they make him sattisfaction there. Wee did formerly prefer a petition of all y.* souldiers concerning y|_ shortnesse of y 1 pay, to w£^ wee reci? an answer y^L noe allteration could be made in it. Wee shall not presume to dive into y{L causes of such adenyall, but wee find our selves obliged to give your WorEl a daily acco^l of y|_ estate of affaires on yl Island and cannot but let you know all yl. souldiers are extreemly discontented, they alledging they are not paid 3 parts of 21 i p. month and yJl present dearness and scarcity of all sorts of provisions does make yl greivance more felt. Wee have hitherto experienced too much fidellity from them to think they will be tempted to act any thing contrary to y_l dutyes, yet wee must needs say should any evill consequence happen that this will be yl reall occasion thereof.

Wee find in an acco!^ lately sent us down that Bombay Island is made J)L to Rojapore ffactory, gf — 46 1. As to the first thing, W2?1 is broadcloth said to be wanting, being a halfe pieces in 2 bales, wee can only say this, that Capi. Ustick were then warehouskeeper and that his warehouse had creditt for whole bales and that if any pi were wanting he ought to make them good. Please to order how wee shall charge it. As to yl 14 bales of Cardimons wee reel none of y™, nor were wee ever advised of any that came up in yl Mallabar Coaster, nor know wee of any landed here, or if they were wee sent y* immediately to Surat ; if they are miscaried they ought not to ly at our door, for neither were they invoiced to us nor a line wrote to us about them. Wee cannot imagine upon what ground jrl short weight of 200 chests Copper is charged to our debt, if the Chests were never opened here but sent from hence whole and well conditioned, may wee think they were never landed ; if it be that Copper came out in y % " Golden Fleece " as wee suppose it is, if yl Comp * pack up but halfe chests instead of whole chests, what does it concern y*m Island. If it can be proved y •_ chests were either opened or embezeled here wee doe confesse y« justness of such a charge, but if otherwise, surly their acco" curr*i or proffit and losse ought rather to be charged w1* it then the Island. But lesse ground doe wee see why y <j short measure of y • broadcloth is brought to our acco". Tis certain they cannot pretend yl bales wee so much as opened here, much lesse any of the cloth cut by us. Wee never heard of

BOMB A Y LETTERS. 1 89

any cloth but what was allways either something over measure or something under, wl|> wee allways apprehended ought to be carried off by proffitt & loss, or else if it were extraordinary by accou cur1', but why Bombay Island should be charged w4^ a loss happened in Rojapore ffactory upon goods woh were never so much as lookt upon here (as wee are informed) is what wee doe not clearly apprehend.

Capt1* Usticks acco*!? are at length finished, in wch wee cannot but confesse yi great pains CapL Gary hath taken, & must acknowledge ourselves thankfully indebted to him. His acco^i curant goes here enclosed. Please to order us when wee shall seek for effects to satisfie his debt and how wee shall proceed further in it. There is 28 pigs Lead wanting, w°h wee cannot by all circumstances find that ever he reel. Having traced all circumstances, find that ever he reci all y I books quite through all origine and doe think they were wanting when M r7 Chown di up the warhouse. Please to order how they shall be clear'd off.

Two days past there went towards Surl 6 Ffrench ships as wee are informed by a Shibarr who mett y? neare Bassein, and not knowing how affaires may stand in Europe, wee have y ■ day sent downe the " Revenge " to Goa and Carwar to give our Europe ships notice of it, that when they returne from yl Coast they may touch here to receive such further orders as yL. Worpi. shall send for them, and much about that time wee may expect news overland from Persia.

Wee have y_? day sould 1000 maunds of Copper at 17£ Rupi p. mi? at 4 ni?i time, wee having remaining by us a great quantity to koine.

The Comp!L sent out a small p.cell Barbary Copper in cases for a tryall, wc} cost yEl but 3/10 p. cent, whereas yl other cost y'l 6/10 p. cent, w?^ wee have sould for 12| Rupi. Suratma^?, w?!1 is 32 p. ci more in proportion yl the other is sould for, and wee could dispose of a good

quantity yearly.

Wee are putting our ffort in ye_ best posture of defence possible in case of any accidlL, fitting all our gunnes w!5 shot and cartridges ready, filling our granados, and making 2 or 300 powder shots and stink potts, and getting all other necessarys in a readinesse that wee may not be taken unprovided. Wee have not to add, but that wee are

Your WorP5 Servants to be Commanded.

Bombay, yl 2l±. October 1677.

Respected Ffreind M*. Walter Clavell,

The " Bombay Merch.r" " George" & " Successe " arrived here from England yl l!* November, yl " Bombay Merchi." was dispatched for Bantam yj! 18 present, y 1 other ships are gone downe yl. Coast to fetch up pepper. Y ° " Scipio Affricanes " who came out last yeare is now bound home. Ml Rolt is confirmed President in yl roome of Ml Aungier, who departed yl life y.1 last July past and yl "Returne" is going to Persia within these six or eight dayes to fetch him over. About 8 days past there went up to yjL no'ward six saile of Ffrench men of warr, and they report they left twice as many at S. Laurence. I suppose they are the 20 saile wlh was reported to be gone to yl West Indies. They may do yl Dutch great damage Wee doe all expect a warr with y4 Ffrench, yl King and Parliment having declared yl necessity thereof for yl. conservation of y%. Spenish Netherlands. I am putting our ffort into yl. best capacity of deffence I can possible, a good preparation being one of yi. strengths. I wish I might have yl honour of serving you in these parts, who should with no meane content embrace any opportunity of approving myselfe

Your humble Servant to be Commanded. Bombay, yl. 24th. October 1677.

J 40 BOMBAY LETTERS.

Worp^. &el

The 26^ pressent came to our reception your Worships of ye 19^ ditto, in answer to W2*1 please to accept of these following lines.

The Carmania goates are all dead ; spotted deare wee shall send home, some by y^_ Europe ships if they touch here.

Wee doe not see yl absolute necessity of allowing 120 pounds to a Judge, not that wee would have yl Island destitute of a person invested wft authority to determine yl. weightiest causes, but yl very name sounds too great for y!L place. It lookes like y« great Gate of little Pendus that make Diogenes aff raid y %. citty would runn out at them. Those who come to these parts are commonly mean persons or young men but very little skilld in our law, and yJL name of a Judge does fill y™ with such a pride that they loose yJL reason in yl contemplation of their greatness and think no man y _L superiour, scarcely y L equall ; and if he, that is yl principle Justice, be invested by yl same power and act by a full Commission, why is it not yl same thing. It is not yl name that makes any diff rence. Y ^governments of provinces are committed to persons who are sometimes stiled Lieutenants, sometimes Deputys, and sometimes Viceroy, though yl power is equall. Yl Conip? formerly ordered that only some one of yl ffactours that was a sober and discreet person might officiate that place, who wee supose would be well sattisfied to have only yl proffit of yl Seals allowed him to his sallary w^i yl former Judge had. There is ML Gary or Mr Robert Harbin, very fitting persons for such an employment, or whom else your Wor p shall please to appoint, w?]> pleas to order so soone as may be, for none of the Justices by the Commissions can sit upon life and death, but only as assistants. Wee imagine a joint Commission for so many Justices of Quorum will doe better then singly invested in any one person. This is only but our oppinions, w^ your WorPJ better judgment can correct.

We shall answer to what clauses of y± Comp^i letter wee find concernes us, as some things were acted by yl President W2]1 lie not within our spheare to take notice of, as the Presidt3 State horse, which is said to cost Rl 1200, though Girder hath since brought to acco!? Rl. 1500 for him. Ml Gyffords housekeeping & servants wages, yl Soape house and 3 months wages paid to yl last Seamen w2£ came from Metchlapatan and yl like, w^ Mi Ff ranees horskeeping, though wee think yl horse would be at yl same charge in yl stable as if he rode him and his servants wage w?ll is but X5. 5 p. ml; however wee shall act therein as yl WorE? shall order us.

Ml Gary has procured for us coppys of his Majesties instructions to Si Abraham Shipman

and Si Jarvase Lucas heerewith, but he never saw any plott of yl Island, neither does he

know of any brought over, but thinks that in the agreement w^ our King for the delivery, yl. Islands of Salsett, Bombay and Carinjah were likewise intended, & Jnl Petit does remember that in y_? year 1662 yl Earl of Marlburough did send Capl Arnold Brown and some others round yl Island of Salsett by way of Bassien to sound all yl way and take full cognizance of all places. Captl Brown will be y * Comp-li best informer in yl buisnesse.

Heerewith goes yl acco'J of yl warehouse all yl while it was under Cap! Ustick, adjusted by Ml Gary. There was some difference in yl last Acco*l currS of Cap! Usticks sent up, w£l? is now rectified, so that he will owe much more yl the last acco5L made out. Wee shall not inlarge at present but to subscribe

Your WorE! &c* humble Servant to be Commanded.

Bombay, y%. 12** Novembl. 1677.

WorpL &c£.

Wee are now come to supply y<L deffects of y® last letters by yi "Successe."

John Petit returns his humble thanks for youi; Licences conceeded him to repaire to Surat.

Ml Oxinden touching in here on y! " Successe " wee found very ready to comply with your

Wor Pi orders in supplying his roome.

BOMBA 7 LETTERS. 141

The Clause of the Preside letter of y?_ 26tFl Aprill concerning yl. Souldiers pay wee did then thorroughly peruse, but it being an absolute order to us wee would not presume farther to discuss upon it. Our oppiniona have been often plainly declared yJ theSouldiera are cut of yV

pay .1 considerable matter. It was ordered by ye Presid ! when here that 19 Pliadeas should passe for a Zerapheen. Wee can indeed order that a penny shall pass for two pence, but it is not all y5. proclamations and commands wee can issue out shall be of force to effect it. It is certaine the Kings and Potentates of Europe doe put what valine they please on thl coines w^. passe current in thl own territories, but while Bombay is but 8 mile long wee doc not see any possibility of following yl rules. Here is nothing growing on y.% Island but Coconutt, and all things wee want from abroad, and though yl Presid * is pleased to say that wee ought not to be concerned how our inony passes abroad, yet how shall wee gett provisions & goods on yL Island except our mony goes of to fetch them, and what is intended by that Clause that wee should use all just means to procure y™ plenty and cheap when ye_ very ffountain head is stopped, that is mony pro- hibited to be carried of. The Shroffs are marked outasy6 cause of this distemper, but wee doe not see on what ground, for they doe not raise yi. vattaw as is objected, but rather lower it, for y£ Zerapheen instead of 10 Phadeas is worth 29. Supose y*. King of England should issue out a proclamation that 4 farthings should goe for a penny ; if any person should give another 8 farthings for his penny wee cannot imagine this is punishable, and y' is just our case, and to order y«L Sheroff to give people silver for yer bujerooks is a disowning our owne coine, for if they are currant, what occasion is there for Sheroff s to exchange y«5 into silver, & if they are not ctirr11- there is reason of a complaint people receiving but 19 Phadeas instead of 29. Our Dugonys indeed goe currant off yL Island, that is at 23 Phadeas p. c. or thereabouts & not at 19 as wee pay them, on to wl* is 20 p. c. losse, neither doe wee argue the necessity of allowing yl Souldiers yl utmost value of y.f Bazar, which rises and ffalls every day. Wee believe two Phadeas in a XJL advance would highly content them, and so low as that it never ffalls. This is only o'l oppinion with a submission to your WorPf letter.

The difference of 100 yj* broad-cloth sent to Rojapore is as your WorP^ rightly imagine so much short added up in y e Invoice, wclr' being rated at so much p. yl. and not so much p. hale as it cost first penny, it is reason our Island should be recharged with it. Y± 14 bales of Cardimons we have at length found out, our Broker having disposed of y2 w^out so much as ever bring- ing y5 to acco^i to yiL day, though he pretends he was at first ordered to give yiL President CL for y1^. We cannot yet make out all yl Saltpeeter, but are examining about it. Surely there must be a mistake in y e price of what came by y± " Mallabar Coaster," w4l being but 404 mil Rojapore in 636 page^l?, w$Ll is near 6j rupl for that maund, whereas other Saltpeeter from them doth not cost halfe yt mony.

Whether y e Copper was weighed here or calculated by y± grosse wee cannot tell, but wee do not find any proffitt by remaining weight ; however wee shall enter it as your WorP» shall enorder.

M L King is mistaken in yiL priceof y • State horse, for Girder allowed y£\. PresidJi 1500 RupZ for him. Y-I Presi^ bought him at first for himselfe, being a Colt, for 400 rupl, & after he had kept him I5 years, ordered Girder to place hiin toyi\ Comp:,» acco^ putting downe 1200 Rup» for his prime cost & 300 Rupi for feeding him 1 h year, as Ml. King upon a second view will find that difference of 300 Rupsr for keeping him all that time was yJL Presid ts till he was sould to y.e CompJi.

Wee do not think there will be any great matter to be added or diminished from CaptJl Usticks accol more yi. what accoE explains those sumes of treasury being since placed to acco1!, and those 2 pJ of Broad-cloth found short at Rojapore shall likewise be placed to his acco'i w^ « 1255 — 36+-

142 BOMBAY LETTERS.

those other petty sums of y4 Preside if Ml, King sayes they are not allowed for. Yol WorE! demands security from y*. widdow in case she should marry, w<*_ wee suppose to be y.1 greatest difficulty of all. That man must be desperately in love that will take a widdow w*J? such an incumbrance, for who shall be able to find out which is her estate from her husbands when they are married, but wee doe not see y± necessity, for what hinders your WorEi for coming to a con- clusion, his debt being now known & the inventory of what he had here being registered in y «. Court. His plate yl widdow pretends to have melted down for her maintenance, however yZ WorE! may resolve on what course is fitting to be done, either to order her to pay back yl am°l of what she has red or part of it or give her a totall discharge as she is. Wee suppose it need not be deff erred for a further examination of his acco^, for there is more allready then wee beleive his estate will satisfie, and if any thing remains they will be but petty thing.

Wee have been in consideration for an employmL. for Cap! Nicolls and could wish for yl sustentation of his family it were effected, but wee cannot pitch upon any, there being none vacant. A Justice of Peace does not receive a penny of sallary, and as to yl. Register wee have no such office on yl. Island, and should one be created it would not be worth to him a groat a day without a sallary. He that is Judge or Chief Justice (w^ is yl same thing) keeps y*. register, and if another have sallary for that place it is giving two mens wages for the officiating yl same place, for wee supose a Judge will be made, and a convinient sallary settled on him whose Com- mission hitherto has always been joined w*. that of Register, the buisnesse of that place being so very small. What yol. WorE? shall order in yl particular wee shall readily perform.

As to those Clauses in y!L Comply letter they were things acted out of ol time. When Jnl. Petit comes up he will give your WorE? more particular satisfaction concerning them, which shall period these from

Bombay yt December 1677. Yo* WorE? Most Ffaithfull Servt

With humble submission to better judgements J. P.

J. Mansell Smith doe approve of what is heerein M. S.

written except y*_ clause concerning Capl_ S. D.

Nicolls. J. H.

Bombay Gene!L. to Suratt.

To His Ex°I_ yl Gene1.'- and Councill, Surat.

That wee deferred yl giveing possession to Sl_ John Wyborne some few days was rather yl better to p.forme, then in opposition to yol. orders, for wee reel yol Ex5Z? &°l letter y°_ 18*L June (being Ffryday). Wee had not time to doe it w%- y*. decency sutable to one of his quallity till yl ffollowing week, and soe soone yl. R*_ Hono^l Compel, estate could not be examined, wtlout w* he could not rec? yl, charge nor give a discharge to yl late Dept GovJL ; besides noe such oath to be found, and he is unwilling to take one of ol fframing, for w$ reasons and yl all matters might be setled in a more ample mannl., it was unanimously agreed by yl approba- tion of Si John Wyborne y* it would be more advantagious to putt it off till y*. 30* June, not imagining wee had been stinted to soe short a time since ol predecessor have taken much longer ; and yol Excy &51 may be senceable y^ yl late Deputy would not doe it for such atriffle, when he hath been att yl great charge, endangered his life, undergone soe much sickness and losses by y^ sever!! expeditions, and as yett not been paid a penny of yl one nor considered for yl other, butt if itt be yol. pleasures must submitt to it, hopeing yL ye expences about introduceing S* John Wyborne w* y* ceremony & respect according to yol orders may not be denyed.

Wee know not wherein wee have submitted to yl Portugueez as yol Ex?Z &cl are pleased to mention, but continually have acted to yl utmost of ol power for yl Honol of oL Kino- and

BOMBAY LETTERS. 143

interest of ol R*_ Hono^ll Mast™ , for y°_ Portugueeze or any other have gained nothing in o*_ time, butt rather wee upon them. In May wee rec'L yl Vice Pvoys lett'., when yl shipps & vessells were unrigged, and before they could be fitted yl raines would have sett in, soe yl wee could use noe fforce by water, nor they doe us any prejudice till ye monsoons were over, there- fore thought it prudence first to write to yl. Vice Roy, Cap! Gene1.?., att Bocaim, w*i! yt Padre Superior att Bandora, but haveing reel noe answer from yl 2 former, wee gave you timely notice thereof to have directions about it.

Sunsonay Parr stands indebted 4500 Rl for debts in dispute w$ was referred in Presid' Rolts time to yl R*_ Hono1'1'' Compn .., as aLsoe 650 XL given to M*. Pettit when DepL GovL. Wee desire to know whether they have write any thing about it yL wee may be enabled to settle y t acco*l.

Wee have adjusted Volup Venys acco**. excepting yl. Tobacco rent in 81 and 82. Enclosed wee send coppy of an abstract of his losses for yl said 2 years, w^1 according to ol information he was promised an abatement by yol Ex°y &cl when att Suratt, but can find nothing of it in yl Registl of y_e. same. Wee have inquired into ye matter and find his demands are reall, and according to his contract he ought to have an equitable consideration.

Enclosed send yol Ex? &cl an attestation made by Ml Hayes attorney for CapL Ad- derton deceased. It appearing yl yl papers relateing to him and MLf Bentam was seized by Keigwin &cl w«| Cap*.. Adderton in his hfe time declared never to have rec*. back againe» and there being none here yl can give any further light into yl. mattl, therefore yl. Executl of y% said Capl Adderton humbly desires y*. yol Ex°l &cl would be pleased to order her to make oath according to yl decree here, upon w^1 yL mony shall be paid, in regard there is other acco*_t£ depending betwixt them.

Since yl delivery to Christophl de Soaza yl lands y*. he laid claime to he desire th y * yl produce of yl said lands dureing yl time of their being in oL. possession may be made good to him, but there being nothing mentioned thereof in yol orders, would not doe any thing untill wee had advised yol. Ex0.? &cl.

The Arrab Merch*! who bought ye„ "Prosperous" haveing made application to us for a bill of sale and yl said shipp being first sold by DJL Si, John in ye-. Court of Admiralty yl proper right and title doth proceed from thence, for Madl Niccolls can give none, her husband never haveing reel, possession ; therefore wee desire yl some Instrument may be sent to intitle him thereunto.

The Padre Superior of Bandora in yl time of Ml Wards being Dep*: Gov£. did make a salt pond out of a ffishing ware called " Roule" between Sion and Martinga ; and yl Corumbeens and Mattreis of Sion, Mahim, Darave and Martinga, say belongs to yl. R*. Hon1^? Coml, and yJL ffish was sent to yl Depl Govl, and yJL it was accustomary for yl Dep i GovL. to goe and ffish there 2 or 3 times a yeare, and Lewis Cuzado did pay a fellow to looke after it. Upon informa- tion whereof there was an action entered against yiL Padre, but he refuseth to appeare in Court, and can show noe ord! from ML. Ward nor none else for said doeing, and wee are informed it has yielded 20 Fissales of salt p. annum for these 2 years past.

Wee transmitt Sombajee Rajahs &cl lett™ translated in Portugueeze w*^ ML. Woolhouses papers and an answer to them, woh concludes all from

Yol Ex? &cl, Most humble & Ffaithfull Servants, Bombay, August y% 13lh, 1686. JOHN VAUXE.

RICH» STANLEY. CHARLES LINZAN.

1 44 BOMB A Y LETTERS.

Coppy. Bombay Gene " to Suratt.

To His Ex?y yl Gene1! and Councill.

Wee reel yo!i Ex0*8 &c% of y* 31f? July, w^ came to us y« II"1 instant. Wl you write about Cap! Tyrrell and Ensigne Barbar y •. present Depl Gov!! hath allready given an acco^ in sever1!- particular lettE*.

The pJLsent Depl GovT sayth yl after he reci his Commission from yoL. Rl Hono^ Cornpl. he tooke yl Sacraml Oaths of AlleigaT and Supremisy and Test, a:id since he came here he hath taken yl Saci'aml and is ready to take yl Oalh as H.G., when the method of yJL oath is known, there being none to be found here, plsumeing it may be imbezled along w2l severij other bookes and papers in y i_ time of y£ Revolution,

Wee hope you will be sattisfied yl wee never heard any complaint about disposeing yl rice. Wee have made strict inquiry and find yl it was false wl yl Meroht- alledged, and wi his reason may be for it knowe not.

The sealing wax wee have rec^. and shall credit you accordingly.

When wee reel any Portueeze lett™ of importance, for yl. future shall follow yol direc- tions in translateing y5*-, and when any thing of moment happens shall give you a perticular acco^l w^out delay

As to yl " Hunt! " wee have ordered her to be fitted w* all speed and will send to Mahim, a proper place for y% business yoL ExcZ_ &cl design'd, and will place her charges as you directed us. Wee cannot lay her at Syon, there being not water enough for her to ride. Her Cap! shall have all due directions, yl there may be noe abuses reel or offered on either side.

As to yl Padres of Bandora and others yl belong to yl Portugal! nation, notice is given to yl Chiefe Justice, who will take care y*. noe such estates be any ways alienated ; but it will be off ill consequence, for if y%. inhabitants of this Island be hindred from attaching one anothers estates, they will never pay their debts and one will starve yl other ; therefore pray yo! further directions as to yl inhabitants of yl Island, who are most under yl nomination as Portugueeze. As to y* damages sustained by ye Portugueeze in oL time wee shall take care to give yol_ Ex°y. &cl. acco^i , but as for yf . time p:ist all yl_ wee can find are in yl Gene!1. Bookes WS1* are att Suratt, and if after a further examination wee find anything material shall advise you thereof.

Yor_ Excy3 &car Most humble Servants, Bombay, yL 13% August 1686, JOHN WYBOtiNE,

JOHN VAUXE. RICH5 STANLEY. CHARLES LINZAN,

To His Ex^f &«

This comes to accompany yl inclosed Rowles, being yl names of all yl R* Honoura- ble CompHS officers, Souldiers and Servants on and belonging to yl Island of Bombay, and serves to acquaint youL Ex£Z &£5 of yl arrivall of a French man of warr designed for Surratt by name yl " Loryflame " commanded by Munsur Du Chenay. He arrived here y% 28t]l instant and sayes he came out of Brest in West France on their Easter Day last past. Y^ Cap!?, sayes yl all things are in peace and quietness in Europe amongst ye. Christians, and that our King is a fitting of shipps of warr to sea, and y • French King is a doing y %. like. He likewise says

BOMBAY LETTERS. 145

that he was in England not many dayes before he came on this voyage and at our Kings Court at Whitehall wher he observed these alterations. Lord Keeper North remov'd from y • scale and L i. Chief Justice Jeffery made Li Chancellor of England, Lord Marquess Hallifax com- manded to his countrey house and some others placed and displaced. YJL R.J Honour''.1.8 our Masters of yi East India Company are sending out of severall shipps for India, but he does not know for what places. In our last we wrote you y *. yi "Faulcon," Cap1*. Prestwick, would be fitted here for her homeward bound voyage, but since yl we finde a great many of her fullock timbers broke and shall be forced to patch her up and send her to Surratt to you to be putt into a Dock, for it is impossible for her to be fitted and repaired here w^ out a Dock, w°A when youL Ex?£ comes hope will be made. Wee hope y i " London " is well, since she sayled hence we have had bad weather. Yi Capl^ of yi French sbipp has not been w** us, he being ill on board, so know not how long he resolves to stay here, many of his men sick of yi scurvey, w°^ w'Jl tender of due respects conclude

Your Ex«V &ol Bombay, Aug* 30*, 1686. Most humble & ffaithfull Servants,

JOHN WYBORNE.

JOHN VAUXE.

RICIID STANLEY.

CHARLES LINZAN.

To His Ex°I the Genr" &la Councill.

This serves to accompany yi. inclosed w°A is a coppy of yi tryall of Robert Clark, a man yi kil'd yi Gunners mate of his Majesties shipp " Phoenix." Ye_ man who was kil'd had neither sword, knife, nor staff in his hand, but was drunk and abusive. Our Deputy Governour has not passed sentence of death on yi. said Clarke, but stayes till he knows youi. Excy &,°± pleasure whether you will have him acquitted or have him suffer. Our opinions you will see in yi inclosed.

We have kept Cap*i Swanly till after this new moon to assist Cap** Prestwick of y£ ■" Faulcon, " w£!l shipp is in an ill condition as we have informed you in our last. SL Jn_ Wyborne being a knowing man in yi afaires of shipping, finds it absolutely necessary & needfull to have all the help possible for yi securing of that shipp, but will dispatch yi " Success " wffin few dayes, and hope she may arrive before, or as soon as you may want her.

Wee wrote your Ex5? concerning his Maj!»! shipp y8. " Phoenix," who we hope will gett afloat this new moon, which if don she may be ready to sayle in a few dayes, but yi. Capt» expects orders fron you. He must come to you for provisions and medicines as allso for his dispatches if you desire him for England. We wrote you concerning powder for said ship and hope wee shall have your answer as to yi. quantity y *. we may spare her, and allso to let us know how you would have us dispose of yi gunns and shott yi came on yi shipp " New London."

Since we reef- youi. order to place yi " Hunter" Ffriggott before Mahim to constrain all vessells to pay custome there we have been round y8r Islands Verrele & Mahim, and do finde an absolute necessity for yi building up of some fforts or watch-houses that are fallen down and are a falling. Yi Ffort at Mahim is not worth a doyt and y8 house is a falling down. It is concluded on by all of us w*J? ye. advice and assistance of Ml Jn° Buttler, that the house at Mahim is well situated and will be cheaper made into a ffort or garison y5. it can be repayred as a house. We would have had ML Jn?_ Coopers advice in it, but he is very ill and hath been so for some time. Wee have thoughts of going on w*Jl said work and will finde out b 1255— 37-*-

146 BOMBAY LETTERS.

a way to defray yJL charge of it, but we hope youi Ex£Z will come and settle matters youl selfe, but till y_? we will take all y±. care wee cann to secure y± Island and will spend no more mony in doing off it yJ? needs must. YJL " Hunter" is gon to her birth before Mahim wth orders what to doe.

S_i Jn° Wyborne has sent Leiutennant Jacob Barber to command at Mahim, judging it a command too big for a Serjant and a trust too great for any man under y i degree of a Commission Officer, & he to be a sober responsible man.

We shewed youJL ~Exc_l? &c • orders to Cap*-? Tyrrill about his flagg. He said he was ready to put you * orders in execution but that he had an order from your Ex9I &cJL and Councill of Surratt under all your hands for wearing said flagg, and when he has an order from under your hands he will take it in, not judging it safe for him to doe it w^out said order. We are of same opinion, w°?L with due respects remayne

Your Ex^ &c * Bombay, September yJL 6^, 1686. Most humble & ffaithfull Servants,

JOHN WYBORNE. JOHN VAUXE. RICH d STANLEY. CHARLES LINZAN.

Bombay Genr " to y.e. Cap^ Genr £ of the North.

Sir,

Understanding that you are come to Bandora w^ some forces, I have thought fitt to vissitt you w^ this letter, to acquaint you that I do not intend any wayes to molest or trouble your countrey or Governm*. Yi cause of yJL ffriggotts comeing and lying at Mahim is onely to cause vessells to pay their antient dues and accustomary customs at Mahim, w^1 is my Lord and M L yJL King of Great Brittains just due and right, and I designe no other wayes or matter by what I have don. S J_, as I have given you an account of what I designed by sending yJj ffriggott to lay at Mahim, so I desire you to let me know youJ/. designe in coming down to Bandora wi* youl fforces. Pray let me have you_L speedy answer. I am resolved what in me lyes to maintaine a good and firme freindship and correspondancy between yJL Crown of England and Portugal!, but I will not part w*^ anything that is my masters due.

JOHN WYBORNE. September 15^, 1686.

To His Ex J? & Councill,

This comes to accompany the Ri Worp^1 Charles Linzan Esq_l, Leiuten* Genr", who come upon his Mag1!?3 Ffriggot " Phoenix," who sayles this day. The pacquett jr.*- came out of England in y e " Worcester" comes w**1 yj? Leiuten *_ GenrJ^ and hope he and it will arive you safe and in good time.

As to Anthony Depinta bussiness of j • Tobacco M * Linzan will informe you fully, but we have and will make a dilligent inquirey into and will give you the best accomp.* of affaires. As to y± " Hunter" lying at yj? river of Mahim she is in y_? place you spoke off. As to y_^ try- ing of Robert Clarke by y_? Court of Judicature y« Judges advice or opinion is of little value, the laws of warr say quite another thing, so y^ if your Exi? please to adheare to DL S* Johns advice as to governing of an island or garrison yi Deputy Governour never ex- pects anything but confusion, for he dare sweare if we doe not punish souldiers by martiall law noe officer nor inhabitance can be safe in their lives or estates. Wee know y « common law will cleare Clarke for murder, and so it will any man for theft, great part of y? Jurymen

BOMBAY LETTERS. H7

not knowing how soon it may be their turnes to be brought to y* barr on the same scoare. Ye Deputy Governour is sure SJL Josia Child is wholly for governing p. martiall law and has been at a great deal of trouble to obtaine it in times past, and now write to y * purpose ; how- ever will submitt to your directions, and Clarke shall be tryed accordingly that he may live and murder some other poore man. As to y • ship " Prosperous" we wholly referr y * matter to be disputed with M r Linzan, who will informe you yj? whole matter. lie was p.sentat y • Con- sultations about yi affaire. As to y*. men yl came in the Shabarr from Surratt we will take care and do as you have directed. We send here inclosed a paper or certificate of damages don by Cap*«L Searles shipp y% " Wellfare" as you will see, w«£. we pray your Ex.?? &cl to see y •. money may be made good when yA. shipp arives you, wclL wJt tender of our due respects conclude

Your Ex%» &cl Bombay September 27* , 1686. Most humble & ffaithfull Servants,

JOIIN WYBORNE.

JOHN VAUXE. RICIID STANLEY.

Bombay Gene^ to Surratt.

To His Excellency & Councell.

We send this to acquaint you yl we are credibally informed that yl Sedee after his haveing had such success at Danda Rojapore and other places is resolved to attack Candrey, * wciL if he doe will infallibly be resigned to him by treachery and may prove of ill consequence to this Island. This we think fitt to advise your Ex% &ol with, praying your directions about it, whether or no you think it fitt to send a man to y • Rajah to propose to him to give y4? said Candrey into our hands till he becomes master of his countrey and y" to returne it to him againe, or any other proposall that you shall think fitt, wit must be done speedily or not at all, for certainly yl Sedee will have it. Penn is certainly in danger of being lost. We are a finishing of y_l accompt of his Mag\^ Shipp " Phoenix," but by reason of some of her men lying in yl. Hospitall, and wee know not how God will deale w^} them, cannot close accompt to send up, w?t as soon as we cann shall be done.

We are a surveighing all y l. stores in y_l Garrison, some of yfL Pouder y_i came over in the three last shipps " London," " Success," and " Worcester" is damnyfyed. As soon as we know y* quantity of each shipps we will send you an account of it, wit we would have done sooner onely for the indisposition of our officers, who have been sick. Inclosed is a bill sent of yi_ damnyfyed cloaths yjL came out in yl. "Worcester" attested by yJL Stoarkeeper. Yl. Cap }*. of said shipp say led from hence w^out giveing us a list of y *. Rl_ Honourable Com- pany es Souldiers shipt on board of yl. said shipp notwithstanding the Dep^Z Govern!, demanded it several times both of him and his Purser. Wee should be very glad to hear from you and to have y i_ Manchua wit us, for we have abundance of men sick and many of y™ dye. The Cap1^! of yJL " London," " Success," &" Worcester" refuse to pay yl Barr". of Gunpowder and pi of which was demanded by Mi Jesop, wit is wJl* at present offers from

Your Excellency &cl_

Bombay, October 18A, 1686. Most humble & ffaithfull Servants,

JOHN WYBORNE. JOHN VAUXE. RICH R. STANLEY.

• Khanderi or Kenery is a small island near the entrance of the Bombay harbonr, eleven miles south of Bombay and six north-west of Alibag. Th j Kolaba light-house, which was bailt in 1867, stands on the highest part of the island.

148 BOMBAY LETTERS.

John Wyat,

You are hereby required to repaire to Suery, takeing -with you two Topasses, and take ye~ charge of yi New Guard House, suffering no souldiers or others that you suspect to be run away to goe off yi Island. You are likewise to take care that no cattell, corne or other provisions be carryed off yi Island, but may suffer any sort of provisions or cattell to be brought on yi. Island, and if you finde any one carrying letters off yl Island, stop them and send them to me, and be sure you search all and suffer no poore people to come and inhabit on yi Island, and call yi Malitia to watch with you every night, spareing y° Padree of Parells servants. You are to apply yourselfe to yi Storekeeper for three spare Musquetts, Bandaleers, & Swords, together with what pouder, shott, match and fflints you shall have occasion of.

Bombay, yi 5% November 1686. JOHN WYBORNE.

Coppy Bombay GenelH to y| RL Hono^l? Compa_.

May it please yo i. Honl!,

On yi.27^ of January 1685 ojllast addresses were to yol Hono'l.by yi Shipp "Williamson" Capl Warner, and hope long ere this is w*1! your Hono™, unto w^. referr you, since none from yoi. HonoEL to this Island. His Ex£Z oi. Gene1! has not yett been amongst us, but wee are day ly in expectation of his approach, well knowing yi. weighty affaires and great troubles y* has con- tinually attended him in oL Rl Hono!le Mastli business has occasioned his long absence from us. Whenever it shall please God to afford us yl. happy hour he Will be a reall wellcome.

Since Si John Wybornes arrival to yi Governl wee have w*^ great care and dilligence made sever** surveighs about the Island, and find many things highly necessary to be done, and principally yi. want of building some Fforts and out works yi. must be effected before wee can give any repulse to an enemys landing upon us. The draining of Batty Ground &c!L would be of advantage when effected, but yi charge of it will not in many yeares be defray- ed, and yi maine thing to carry on wi wee here mention is Treasury, and at pJl sent wee have litle more then will pay yJL charge of yi Garrison charges, and to draw on Suratt Ffactory wee are highly sensible will not at pi sent accomodate us. Still the principall Bastian & Curtaine is unfinished, w£*L is really a pitty. Yi reason yoi. Hono^i well know, w?1} does not only hinder that good intent of building Barracks in yi Ffort, but yi. effecting many other designes laid down by yoL Hono^i.

Enclosed is a list of yi. English deceased since o*. last to this instant w*JL those yl are liveing. Y% mortallity has this yeare been exceeding violent, and shall much want recruites by all oppertunitys ; and cheifest reason yl can be given is yi. absolute want of good Europe me- dicines yJL should have been yearly sent out fresh. Here has been none from yoilHonoEi since yi_ yeare 1682 — 3, w^ puts us to useylcountry Physick, w£lL serves only to augment yi charge of y± garrison and does men more hurt than good. For a supply of wl is necessary wee now send a list or Invoice here inclosed under y.fr hand of J* chiefe Chyrurgeon, and an accoli of wiis wanting and necessary to y« releife yearly of yl Stores and Marine. Yoi Honoli shipps many of them takes in store of Ballast in their outward bound voyage ; now in liew of some of that, if you please to send out about ten or twenty Challdron of Sea Coales for yi use of yi Smiths Fforge, it may in a years time save a great part of wl. is expended in charcole, w?L burnes away like durt, and does litle service for any great worke yl must be made for yi. Garrisons use.

BOMBAY LETTERS. 140

"Woe likewise have hart a view of o r. Hono';'2 Mast™ houses in this Tslanrt, woh aro very much out of repaire, some of thorn dropt rtowue to ye. ground, others y* will cost more to make them Tennantahle yl the houses and ground rent is worth, but many of them y*. are in towno when occasion shall serve will make good warehouses and godownes.

The Gone|l bookes of this place for j% year 1685 are gODe to Suratt by yi. "Worsp" Charles Lin/.an \vth other yi Consultations &ci, but those for this p™ sent are not finished, by reason wee want writers. Ye Accomptant and Secretary has none to assist them but such as wee are constrained to take from their dutys in yi Garrison, and those wee cannot hinder from yi knowledge of w± wee o^. selves are under an oath to keep secrett. Now if vol Hono2 will please to send us a supply of honest, sober young men, wee shall goe on w* ol business much yl better.

A dry Dock for yi refitting of shipps will be of great use here and may be easily made. This y£ Dep^ GovJL Si Jul. Wyborne does believe may be of great use and profitt to yol Honorf and indeed soe it must for all shipps in these seas, when they know of a Dock where they may lye dry securely, will come to cleane and repair their shipps. The shipp "Ffaulcon" hart not left her bones here, had there been a Dock. SL John Wyborne has wrott to y e Cap_* Geno.11 about it, but wee doe not know wj; the event of this mattJ_ will be, and therefore can only say it will be a necessary profitable worke when downe.

The new Depl Govl has made yi house in yi. ffort much more commodious then ever it was, having fitted up a very convenient Chappell out of 2 roomes sittuated in y ± midle of yi house, where there is room enough for four times yi. number of people yi wee have on this Island.

All sorts of provisions is very deare occasioned by yi warr w^ yi. Mogull, Sombajee Rajah and y e Portugueeze, all their forces being quartered in oi neighbourhood, soe y *, y 1 poore sould? can hardly live on their pay. If any alteration be made in yi. coine to lessen it they will infallibly starve or cause some distraction, for noe liveing man will endure starveing when at libertie, soe hope yoJL HonorL will be pleased to lett yl mony passe as it now does till provisions grow cheaper.

Yol Hono?. have writt to his Exc2 & Councill to perraitt one M* John Broxolme to returne to his native country, having some estate fallen to him. Now during y_i time of his being on this Island he has entered into yi marriage Covenants w^ yl widdow of one Thomas Bygott, by wcJ} means he became lyable to pay yl Debts of the said Bygott, and wee finding him to stand indebted to yoL Honol! yl sume of XL. 380 and in sterling mony at £28 10L., for which sume wee have here enclosed his bond made payable to yoi Hono™ w5^ hope will be punctually complied with. Wee shall carry it from Bombay bookes to Suratt acco^ currant, and hope all may be to your Hono1! contents.

This Island did formerly vend a considerable quantity of Europe manufactures as broad cloath, perpetuanoes, lead &CL, and it would be convenient such things were in y%. warehouses for sale, by \vci' means it would draw trading to y<L Island, and advance yi customes yearly. Here is of late many silk weavers and others come from Tannah, Choule, &c%, and if encouraging given they will dayly come from other parts to us. Yl. Portugueeze meerly tyrannize over those poor people and exact such great taxes and customes from them yL they fly ye_ citties and principall places of trade.

"Wee desire y*_ more care may be taken when yol Honoti send out any men whither as souldiers or servants for yi. poore men are gene!l starved or beaten and abused y*. they fall into the scurvey and halfe of them dye ye way, or come on shoare sick and weak, altogether unfitt for service. Yf_men that came out on yl. "New London" were the healthiest, strongest men

b 1255—39+-

150—152 BOMBA 7 LETTERS.

yl ever came hither out of England, w2f) wee suppose was occasioned by Si John "Wvbornes care of and charity to them. Here was landed 62 men all fitt to beare armes yl first day. When yol Hon?? agree w*^ any Capl of yoL shipps to bring yol servants out for India, pray be pleased to agree yl each man have soe many oz!L of bread p. day, for if y';_ men be served a weeks bread att a time, it often happens yl one steale from another, and if a poore man looses a weeks bread before he comes to have any more, he is halfe starved, soe it is necessary to have them served dayly, besides yl Captl say they allow them soe many pound of bread a week, but they allow not above 10 ozJL to yl. pound, w£l? starves yl. poore wretches, and all other provisions proportionable. Yl. men yJLcame on yl" Worcester" ffrigott wee have reason to beleive were ill used. Here came but 19 poore souls on shoare, and but two of them able to stand, they all haveing yl scurvey. Great part of them are since dead in yoI_ Hospitall. We humbly beg on yl. poore mens behalfes yl you may have occasion to send out hereafter, yl some other care may be taken for their safety and yo__ Hon?5 service and this countrys security, for in y* maine your Hon18 are yl loosers.

Wee add not more, but conclude w^ yl tendl. of ol dutys, and remaine,

Yol Honours Most humble & ffaithL. Servants, Bombay, yl 29<A December 1686. JOHN WYBORNE.

JOHN VAUXE. E1CHD STANLEY. JOHN JESSOP. P.S. — Since closure of yl. letter, arrived here yol. Hono™ shipp " Charles yl 2i, Cap _ Andrews, who informes us of more of yoI_ Hono shipps y*_ are bound to us. God of his infinite mercy send them safe to arrive and yl yol HonoII affaires may florish.

Coppy Bombay Geneil to Callicutt. To ML Thomas Mitchell &« Ffactors att Callicutt,

Yesterday wee reel a letter from Suratt w^ informs us of y!. "Wellfares" arrivall Swally Hole and how yl. she mett with European Pyratt Shipps, one carried between 40 and 50 guns Hage boate, yl other a square Harne shipp abl_ 30 guns. They sent yl. great shipps boate on board jJL shipp "Wellfare" manned wholy w^1 Dutch men save one Scott. They demanded who yl shipp belonged to and a sight of her ord^?, wch yl Cap__ refused to shew them. Then yl boat went on board yl great shipp and returned wl! y e same message, but yl Cap J; gave yHL the same answere againe, when they tacked and stood to yl southward. They both wore Dutch Coull8, and gave out they were Dutch and belonged to Batavia, but God knows w\ they be, and in such case wee cannot be too wary. Wee therefore desire you to acquaint all such shipps and vessells as fall in w ;; you to be very carefull; and as for yl "Quedah Merch^", "Cazar," " Fformosa", "Bombay Merchll," and "Prudent Mary" w5^ are bound for Suratt, it is y 1. Genel and Councills ordl. yl they all call in here, where is ordi left for each shipps respective Comand , w5^ wee strictly require you to acquaint them w^. Wee desire your advice if at any time you heare any news of them, w^ is wl needfull at present from

Yol very affectionate fFH?,

Bombay, yl 4* Jam 1686 JOHN WYBORNE. "

7 john vauxe.

fjchd stanley. john"jessop.

BOMB A Y L ETTER8. 1 53

Bombay General to Surratt. May it please yol,. Ex ?y and Councill.

Our last was under yJL 175? instant by y.i. " Hoy " dispatch, since wi? none from you * Ex?Z &c±. This serves for cover to yi inclosed muster rolls of yi? 13*!' past w<* your Excy &cA may please to take notice of, that the souldiers wi^ came in y4 " Charles y± Second " are in a roll by y .5 selves but are mustered and divided equally in jr.* 3 Comp^!, because we at pre- sent know not yJ?. contracts, neither have they had their pay, waiting to heare from your Excell °? &c • what to doe in such cases, whether they are upon yJL same Covenants wi^ y * " Worcesters" men or not, as many of yJ5 alleadg y4 they made no such contract with our Hon- ourable Masters.

It is now high time to consider about putting up y_£. rents for yJL following yeare, there- fore crave your Excell^? &c_5 assistance. We cannot tell how things be carried on, as to y± advancemi. thereof wee hope the Tobacco rent may rise. If there be any hopes of procuring Tobacco from Surratt y •. Customes will not advance, because they have had but a bad yeare to encourage biding. All y± other small rents hope will not fall, but when your Ex^L8 orders arive will us shall use all dilligence to make the most for yJL interest of our Right Honourable Masters.

Here is a prospect of some vessells going down yJL Coast for rice and provisions for this place, and considering batty is allready risen to 40 and 80 Xeraphins y_!_ mora, and likely to be suddainly dearer, we think it may not be amiss if yJL "Ruby" Ffriggottbe lett out or sent down to convoy some of yJL vessells if yo L Excell 3. &CJL approves thereof, which may add some- thing towards yJL bearing her charge she lyes at and will greatly encourage yJL bringing trade and provisions to yj* Island. This we crave your Excellencys &cJL speedy answere, that no time may be lost on y± designe if concluded on. Y • Ffriggot is now on shoar in order to her fitting for y_L sea and hope will be off in two or three tides. She shall lye ready on all occations that may offer. As yett none of yJL Country or other of y± Cornpi? shipps appeares, but when any, shall spedily advise your Excellency &c_L .

Since writeing yJL above is come into yJL road yJL "Betty" and Girderdass Rujeages shipp from Pershia y_L " Success." She has letters from thence. We shall not send overland but rather take some more secure sea conveyance.

Just this instant yJi "Modena" appeared off yil road and her boat is nowonshoare wi!1 y_l letters, and what came by her for Surratt we shall imediately dispatch on board her againe will those letters y_i arrived wi^ us from Pershia, thinking it to be yJL most safest conveyance. She shall not stay will us longer yJL to land her officers and souldiers, unless y_i Cap^. has any business of his own to detain him, for as soon as y_i souldiers are safely landed he shall have his sayling orders for Swally in order to kiss your Excell??3 & hand, which is yJL needf ull at present from

Your Excellencies &c± Bombay, January 18*, 1686. Most obedient Faithfull humble Servants,

7 JOHN WYBORNE.

JOHN VAUXE. RICH? STANLEY. JOHN JESSOP.

D 1255—39

154 BOMBAY LETTERS.

Bombay Generall to Surratt. To His Excellency & Councill.

Since our last of yJ} 23ri. instant by this same conveyance, wit we did hope would have been wit you some dayes sooner y_E_ wee now see it is possible for her to be, so send this to acquaint your Ex % &cJu y_i- yesterday morning we were advised by some Moore men that were taken by 3 Arrabe shipps yA. cruise off of S* Johns and between y_*- andBusseen, as we are tould pretending to look for yJL Danes men of warr, that they have taken out of a fleet or Caffelow* that were under Cap*i. Rathbands convoy, six Grabbs and four Shibars, some of which did really belong to this place and most of yJi. rest had passes from this Island, but haveing Portugueze passes as well as ours, the Arrabs would not believe that they did belong to Bombay, saying that if they could be well assured that they did belong to our nation, y_L y_S. he would not meddle wit yj5_. Ya "Hunter" and " Hoy " as we are enformed was faire by y£l but never spoke wit y *.. YJL Arrabs giveing some of y JL men their liberty, they came to us and advised us what had happened. We sent out yJL Ri_ Honourable Company s Munchua to cruise after those shipps wit letters from our Deputy Governour and from yJL Arrabe yi_ is with us and two of his men, and hope they may gett y_l vessells and goods cleare. However this has made Volup Venny the Rendere of y_L Customs very uneasy, finding that no vessells can pass unplundered by one sort of nation or other. We do humbly pray yoI_ Excell°y? directions what to doe in this case. YjL Customs of this Island will be infallibly ruined if those shipps cruise long on this Coast. The stay of yJL " Modena" here has not been occationed by us, but only for water and to refresh their men, haveing had a sickly shipp. We do humbly hope y.i, YouJL Exf? &c_L will not impute her stay here to be any neglect, for wee have been very uneasy at it, but hope she will arrive you in safety. Y_L " Ruby" Ffriggott is graved and fitted to goe on any voyage you please to send her on, which wee hope will be to Mangalore or that way to gett rice, w * is allready and will be much wanted, wit wit presentation of our most humble service, we conclude

Your Excell£La &c± Most Ffaithfull humble Servants,

Post ScripiL. JOHN WYBORNE.

The handoles wi^ we borrowed here to go JOHN VAUXE.

will Mj: Sharton are not returned and those that RICH5 STANLEY.

own yJEL solicite us to desire your Exi? will be JOHN JBSSOP.

pleased to order yJB down or they to be paid for them.

Bomhaxj, January 26 '_!*, 1686^

7

Bombay Gener1}- to Suratt. May it please your Excellencie &ai

We have your Exc^ &c^. of ye_ 19* January, which came to our hands 27*jL, unto which we give answer and take notice what is mentioned about ye„ Siddy and other forces of y*. Mogulls. All caution, warriness and industry shall be used in y»_ managem*.. of w!i laid down by your Excy_ &clL , and are very sensible yL honnour and intrest of our King and Country lye at stake in these parts of vl, world, and what in us lyes to redeem it shall not be wanting. We likwise see your Ex^ &c^_ has, if occasion requires, ordered the " Success " to this place. Wee hope the "Hoy" may be with your Exc.y &ca_ long ere this, and satisfie all how things were when ye_ ship "Phoenix" left y<L Deans ships. We see what is wrote in ye__ letter from Patana and finde they have been sturring in some action. Wee wish all may turne to good effect.

* Caffelow, for Cafila. The word is here used for sea convoy. See Colonel Yule's Hohson- Jobson, p. 1 09.

BOMB A Y LETTERS. 1 55

Wee are at a stand for want of y8_ Contracts w* yl officers and souldiers imported here out ye.._ " Charles yl. Second " and " Modena," but hope they may be in some of yl. pacquetts by tbe last shipp wc)> in a faire way may be w*Jl your Ex0? &cl. ere this. The orders for yl. opening and perusal] of all such pacquetts that for the future may come to our hands directed to your Ex°y &c* shall be observed.

"We are very sensible ye_ Honourable Company has ordered ye_ Souldiers pay to be reduced to Xeraphins at 20']. and are in generall for putting y*__ order in execution ; but wee humbly begg leave to lay down some considerations before wee poynt blank runn upon it, viz*.. ,

The strictness of their order to imediately dissmiss out of their service all such as shall refuse to receive their pay as they have established their quoin to go here.

The answer to y*_ : If yl. Right Honourable Compl. should but begin w** one private senti- nell to casheir Mm on yl account, they would possibly leave but few, but what has allready repented of their coming out, and would be glad of such an occasion to quitt their service, for most part of what now come out are able seamen and will not be yoaked unless it be easier to y1^ yl. ye_ sea ; and considering yl. circumstances our nation lyes under here in India, not know- ing how soon we may be in action for yt .. honour and good of our nation, we humbly offer it as our opinions not at this juncture to effect that, but rather labour undl. an incouragem*— yl. a discouragem*_ to men that must stand by us, and no doubt but will when their pay is encourage- ing and all they fight for. "We leave this wholly to you1! Ex°y? &cl. consideration, and if it cannot be avoided doing at this juncture, we beg your Ex°_y will be pleased to put forth Pro- clamation yl it may be openly published at y!_ head of all yl. Companys what yl will and pleasure of the Right Honourable Compl. is relating to yl alteration and settleml. of all mony rates to be paid in this Island, w0^ will not onely satisfie all that shall heare it, but be a standing rule for us to act by, and it shall no longer be delayed on our parts, but imediately put in execution, and hope what we have here layd down may not be taken amiss.

By this conveyance yl. complaints of severlj. Banianns and Moores, inhabitants and merchants of this Island, that has sustained great losses by three Arrabe shipps belonging to Goung for takeing two Shibarrs and a Grabb laden from this port, they bring w*)l y?L severall attestations of yl. value of their cargo w*j? complaint to Governour of Surratt and to expect some satisfaction, heareing there is in Surratt river an Arrabe shipp, and considering they are our subjects and brings by their trade customes to yl. Island they rely on your.. Ex°Z &cl_ to stand their friends. This we thought safe to advise youL Ex°J &cl_ of.

Your Exf? &clL are noe strangers to yl. Bendeiroes of yl. last years Tobacco stand. One Ramagee Commattee, in whose behalfe wee now write, has by his experience the last yeare some incouragem*_ to advance mony for tobacco in order to take y'L. same againe this year, and will bid as much as any and doubts not but to carry y?_ day. He has hitherto been very punctuall in his paym*? and believe him to be a monyed man, such as those must be the men that farme rents, that has a stock aJlwayl beforehand, in order to which has sent sever1^ to Surratt to purchase a large quantity of Tobacco, and makes it his request to you£_ Ex°y &c^.. that what Tobacco he shall buy between this & yl. raines may be sent down in the Right Honourable Comp3* shipp or vessells for yl more and better security, for which he wholly putts himselfe upon your_ Ex°y &ca_ and doubts not your assistance therein. It is in a faire way to rise this yeare, there being many ready to wait yl. motion of putting up. "Wee have great want of rattans to make hoops for our powder Barrells. "We cannott purchase any here and therefore do humbly pray youl. Ex°I &cl to give order for buying some att Surratt for us. Yl. men y*. .. came in y.. " Ruby " want their pay and pretend to make a new agreem*__; as we understand ye Cap*? of y°_ shipp " Charles ye.r 2'*. " is to pay y™. till their arrivall here. Wee pray you to inquire into

156 BOMBAY LETTERS.

y«L. matter and to send us you:., directions therein as to their pay and agreem*_ . One Mr_ Hilton is come over in ye7 shipp " Modena" as Ensigne of a Comp*_ and Agitant of y!L fforces on Bom- bay, who says he is to have allowance of pay for both places, but wee have not his agreem*- made in England, so pray you1;. Ex°y &c* orders in ye._ matter. Cap^. Prestwicks shipps hull will be put up to saile. If your Ex5Z &ca think fitt that wee or one of us bid for it on our Rt Honourable Masters acco"- or otherwise, please to signify your pleasure, and we will care- fully comply w*^ what you or any of you shall direct, wcA is what offers at present from

Your ExceU°ys &c». Most obedient Ffaithfull humble Servants,

Bombay, February 5<_A, 1686 JOHN WYBORNE.

7. JOHN VAUXE.

PJCHD STANLEY. JOHN JESSOP.

To His Excell^ & Councill,

We rec<L youl__ ~Excl? &c%- letter of y!_ 28th. February last past. It came to our hands yer- 9*. instant, and had answered it sooner, only stayd for y% settling of matters as ordered therein. Y? _ Officers and Souldiers that came out in Shipps" Modena," " Charles ye_ 2^ " and " Tonqueen " are divided into 3 Companys, though much to y!L dissatisfaction of Lieutennant Finch and Ensigne Hilton, who are not mustered in any of the Rolls, but shall be paid distinctly by themselves till further orders from your_ Exc_y &c%_ . The Deputy Governour does not permitt Lieutl Finch to doe any duty, he haveing turned Roman Catholick since his arivall here, as we have formerly advised you. We have discharged the Topasses all but fifty in each Company and have paid y!L Garrison yi_ last months pay att 20^ to yer. X1? , to y* dissatisfaction of most people as well Officers as Souldiers. Since that pay a great many of our Europe people, as Ffrench and Dutch, y * had 105? 2\ 0? , have layd down their armes and are gon off from y%_ Island. Yi. Topasses in generall say they shall be starved, provisions of all sorts being so very deare, but all y%. peoples hopes is that when your;- Ex2Z comes you will take pitty on them and give them their former allow- ance. A coppy of yi agreemt_ y^_ yf. men made in England who came out on y*. " Tonqueen" we herewith send you. If ye Arrabs vessells should fall into our hands y*_ have taken vessells that did belong to our Island, we will not only make y™ give satisfaction for y<L goods and vessells taken from us, but also demand satisfaction for y*L dammage that yi R\ Honourable our Masters have sustained in y%_ Custome of goods yl_ would have been imported and exported had it not been for feare of them. Y% Deputy Governour has often demanded an acco" of ye; Banians & Moremen of the damages that they have sustained, which you shall have as soon as we can. We sent y*. Maclrass Cossetts forward toCarrwarr in y* " Loyall Merch<L " a Pinck * be- longing to Volup Mettey of this place and shall not fayleto advise your Ex°Z of any news that shall come to our knowledge. Since our last of y?_ 8!* instant we have disposed of the Rack rent to y!L Bandareens for eight thousand eight hundred Xeraphar per annum to be paid monthly, y?- one being bound for the other, and Ramjee Commattee to appoint a Shroff to collect ye._ money at j*~ Bandareens charge. As to y*L sloops charge in refitting her we cannot as yett tell, she not being compleated, but will advise your Excell?y &c% so soon as don. You were pleased to order y*_ fitting of said sloop and letting her out in yours of the 6^ November, in order thereunto it was left by us to y?_ Depty Governours care and order what he thought fitt to be done to said vessell, he being a man that has skill in those matters and indeed has taken aboun- dance of payns in ye rebuilding of said vessell. The work is done by the M£. Carpenter of Capta Prestwicks shipp, who is an ingenious man. Our Deputy Governour and Mr_- Builder do agree that

* Pink. A "Pink "was a long narrow sterned vessel with three masts carrying lattecn sails. English vessels of this form are said to be " pinked sterned"-

BOMBAY LETTERS. 157

if she had been repaired and not have been altered, y*. even then y±. charge of doing that would have cost above two thirds at what she will now stand in, which would have been mony flung away. But now she will certainly he yi best vessell in India of hex burthen, which will be neere fourscore Tonus, Yl Deputy Governour sayes that he is sure when your Ex1? &c* sees y°. vessell you will be pleased with what is done to her, and we are all of his opinion. Yt Arabb Kerch! has paid and given in security for y^. 1200 and odd rupi that are in dispute, we liaveing given him our joynt bond to refund the mony hack to him or his order if when yL. Bond of agreeing be produced it does not appeare to be yL Companys due. He has had possesion of the shipp "Prosperous" for some time and may carry her away when h<' pleaseth. We heare he intends to saile hence in a few dayes directly for his own countrey. We have likewise sent your Ex°y &ca. six Muster Rolls and y°_ abstracts, as y£ men were paid the last pay <lay which we could not well avoid, y!L men comeing over in three severall shipps and landing at as many times and have been mustered as landed. But our next Rolls will he but three, all the men being divided as we have said before according to your orders. The charge of y^ Custom House at Bombay is in the hands of M.I Richard Stanley and that of Maliim is in the hands of Ml John Jessop, who we think to be ye7 properest, both being of Councill. We delivered your ExceDSg letter to the Arrabb Merch*_ as directed. A Roll of the Staff Officers and a coppy of the Contract of the " Modenas" men we likewise herewith send you, which is yer. needfull at present from

Your Excellency JL Most Humble Servants, Bombay, y± 83*. March 1686-87. JOHN WYBORNE.

JOHN VAUX. RICHARD STANLEY. JOHN JESSOP.

May it please your Excellcy_ & Councill,

Since our last here has happened a business of very ill consequence, y± Portugueze Padree of Bombay, by name Ffrea Jn£. De Gloria, did in his own Parrish Church christen or receive into yJL society of y 1 Romish religion one Nathanaell Thorpe, sone to Lieul Thorpe deceased, and y° Padree of his own accord came to yJL Deputy Governour to beg his pardon for makeing a Roman Catholick Christian, but with all confessed that yJL said Thorpe did come to him to be made a Christian severall times before he did it, and upon heareing y° same y£ said Thorpe was apprehended by ye Deputy Governour and brought to examination, confessed y!_ y? said Padree did tell him it was much better for ye good of his soule to live in y I Roman Catholick religion yu. to live in ye English Church, w1'1 many other circumstances and arguments to draw him from his naturall obedience to his King and religion brought up in, which by severall statutes is made high treason, viz J;, ye 23r4 yeare of Eliz1]; and ye_ first Chapter, yf. 3*. of James and Chapter yfL 4**L largely treats of y«L same, and many more laves down ye. hainousness b 1255- -41+-

158 BOMBAY LETTERS.

of y±. crime and by all judged high treason for any one to perswade or withdraw any subject from their obedience to yJL King, or to reconcile them to y± Pope, or to draw them to y±_ Romish religion for yJL intent, or move y*L to promise obedience to any other State or procure Councill or aid them that doe is Treason. Now may it please your Ex£L &c^., this being a weighty thing to be considered and much more to be suffered, have legally apprehended yl_ said Padree and is now in save custody untill your Ex5Z? &c» further orders about him. We presume your Ex?? &ci will have y* matter stated according to y£ Cannons of our Church by our Padrees here and remitt y%. same by this conveniency. Tbe Padree was committed prisoner to ye County Goale in yL Bazzar by Judg Vaulk on y*. 11J* instant and layd in y^ room where M1! Thormburne was, and yesterday by yer earnest intercession of yi Padree of Mahim and a strange Padree y? Deputy Governour M!L Stanly & ML Jessop ordered him to be removed from ye_ Common Goale to his own Parrish Church of Bombay, where he is confined with a guard over him to see that he does not escape nor act in y%. Church untill your Excellencies pleasure be known what shall be done in this matter ; wc_^ with presentation of our most humble service we rest

Your Exes' Most Humble Servants, Bombay, Aprill lS^L, 1687. JOHN WYBORNE.

JOHN VAUXE. RICHARD STANLEY.

R* Worspl Saml Annesly,

President & Councill.

Yours of the 30^ past we reel the 61^ instant, which gives us an account of what you could learne of the Ffrench designes, who were not so quick as expected; but on the 6^ instant they were seen about 2 leagues to the niLward of Busseine at anchor. On the 9^. from Worlee our people see 4 come to an anchor off Versiva, and yesterday evening three of them came about Mallabar Point, and at sunset anchored off ^the point of Old Womans Island where they yet remaine, and the other two we suppose are at Versiva. These three at anchor here we believe may be the Kings ships, who probable may lye and cruize some time before the port in hopes of plunder, if they are not frightened away by the Dutch and our ships, w£?L probably will be very speedyly. The news we hear be true, for the CapA and Padree of Choul have both of them letters that advise of 12 saile of Dutch ships off Goa. The letters arrived about a week since, but how long they were on the way we doe not know, and on Sunday last we had advices from Choul that the Friday before the ships were seen of Dande Rojapore. "We immediately dispatcht a boat thither to informe us of the truth of this last report, and hope she may returne to day.

It is not our opinion that the Ffrench have any other designe than what above mentioned, but if they have, we hope to give them sufficient cause to repent thereof.

BOMB A Y LETTERS. 159

We doe not think that the "Moco" ffriggatt and the " Benjamin " can come with safety to this Island while the Ffrenoh lye between them and us, therefore would not have you order them from Swalley hole till you receive further advices from us.

Your &i, Bombay Castle, FfebrJl fc 11* 1695 JNP GAYER.

6 W« AISLABIE.

BEN J a STAGEY.

RL WorspL Sam1^ Annesley,

President & Council!.

Yours of the 5*Jl instant wee reel yesterday with all mentioned in the list, to which shall speedily returne answer.

Yesterday about 11 clock the three Ffrench ships formerly advised you of that lay att anchor off Old Womans Island, weighed and betook themselves to a light pair of heels, haveing, as we are informed by our returned boat, sight of the ships that went in quest of them off Danda Rojapore, and we are inclined to believe the report true, for that by the manner of working they seemed to be in some consternation, steering sometimes allmost before the wind, then bearing away again, then staying one to speak with another, and at last stood off close upon a wind makeing all saile they could possibly make. The last news we had of the other two was that they cruised off Versiva, but now cannot hear where they are. By the aforementioned boat we reel a letter this day from Capl Pye and the Commander-in-cheif &ci of the Dutch shipps. Copy of the former is enclosed, of the other we cant send you one: the reason you know. But by what we understand, they are in want of wood and water, and designe to put in here to supply themselves. Their want of these we fear will prevent their following the Ffrench. Our boat left them allmost as high as Choul, and if they doe not p.sue the aforesaid we may expect to see them to night. Their force and number you will be informed of from the prementioned copy of Cap * Pyes letter. The people belonging to the boat say there is four ships to the Si. ward of them about 4 or 5 leagues, which we suppose may be English belonging to p?£H? in the R. H. Cs- service of this Coast, and the other enclosed we send you copy of ours to Cap4, Edgecombe and CapL Browne.

Your &™

Bombay Castle, Ffeb'JL 15%, 1695 JN0, GAYER.

6

On recL hereof acquaint the Dutch Director of the above news.

W^ AISLABIE. BENJA STACEY.

R^ WorspL SamL Annesley,

President & Councill.

To yours of the 5th instant we answer we have not been wanting to the utmost of our power and present circumstances to put this Island in the best posture of defence we could, and had the Ffrench made any attempt against us, with Gods assistance do not question but that we should have given them cause enough to have repented thereof. We thank you for your de- signed care to assist us by writeing to CapL Edgecombe and Mr_ Browne to come down hither with

160 BOMBAY LETTERS.

ship " Moco " ffriggatt and " Benjamin " and we also give them thanks for their readyness to comply with your orders had the business been practicable, and for their generous offers of hazarding their lives for the R. II. CL interest.

The Generalls obligation to CapL Browne and Cap*, Edgecombe about their dem!L &c± was enclosed in our Generall to you of the 1 5^ instant.

If the Governour will have the cloth rated as it is worth in town, and not as A. Peeree bought it, we cant help it, but Augan Peeree for that reason must not defer to receive the goods. If the Kings order should be to confiscate them, we think we have little reason to consider of sending ships convoys to his ffleets ; but should such a monstrous thing come on the stage, we will doe A. Peeree justice if anything shall appear to be due ; therefore doe your utmost to get the goods to him, that our R. H. Masters may no longer lose their interest, nor be otherwise p.judiced. A. Peeree writes the Generall he would buy cotton, but that he fears it may be dislikt and left on his hands ; therefore to remove the pretence, give him possitive orders what sort and what quantity to buy, with a possitive promise to receive it for account of our masters. The damage of lemmon coloured cloth must be adjusted when the rest is, and the cloth charged to their accompt when the other is, for you may p.ceive by the copy of the contract formerly sent you there is no distinction made, but all was to be immediately di them ; therefore if they make any demur to this you may tell them you will immediately land all and deliver it them, for it is to serve their interest that it is kept on board, as you will perceive by copy of a writing enclosed that we gave Callender after the signing and sealing the prementioned contract, the lead is also upon delivery to be charged to his account & all things else as the contract will informe you.

The Generall will write to him abl impressing money and provideing goods.

Yesterday we reci the enclosed by over land conveyance from Callicut, and this day we are credably informed by sundry p.sons belonging to boats come in here, that the "America" and " Emerald " with a countrey ship their company were off Dabull on Ff riday last. This we believe to be certainly true, for that they give us a p.ticular account of M* Burmston, M*_ Pattle, their wives and childern aboard them, besides other undeniable circumstances, but we wonder they should run so great a risque of the " Americas " cargoe. Wee were in great hopes, seeing the " Dutch " and the " Thomas " appeared not in sight till this day (haveing had news of the other yesterday by a Shybar) that they would have all come in together, but to our great trouble it is not so, for we can at this time see no more than the " Thomas," seven Dutch ships and one small vessell.

Your &5i Bombay Castle, FfebrJ 17lL, 1695 J. G.

6 W. A.

B. S.

Ditto y|_ 181h. Last night here imported the "Thomas" and the above Dutch ships, who gave chase to the 3 Ffrench ships that lay at anchor off this Island. The Ffrench stood off to sea upon a wind seeing the Dutch &£l off Choul on Saturday last at 10 in the morning. The latter p.sued them till night, and then lay by. There was little difference in their sailing. Next morning the Ffrench were out of the others sight, and then the Dutch stood in again, but have not

BOMBA Y LETTERS. 161

seen the enemy since. At 12 last night here arrived from the "America" a Munchua, who parted with her and the " Emerald " three leagues to the s?. ward of Dande Kojaporeon Sunday evening. Co|>y of the letter she hrought is enclosed for your p.usalL This morning at break of day we dispateht a Munchua with Cap1 Stacey in her with the best directions we could possibly give for the secure navigateing the above ships hither, or in case of meeting the enemy, to order them into Dande Rojapore. We also wrote to the Dutch Commaudore &*? this morning to acquaint where these ships were, of- the great worth of one of them, and desired them toconduet them hither, but they were all under sail ere our letters got on hoard, and how they will act when they receive it we doe not know. They designed for Goa, to keep the Ffrench from entering there and saltpetre from being imported from Bengali hy the Fortugueeze ships. The Oenerall told them that came on shore from the Commaudore that it was his opinion the Ffrench did not designe there, and that it was too early for any ship to arrive there from Bengali, hut he did not prevaile with them to alter there designe. They have 1000 men on hoard and say Commaudore Hunton here stronger than they are. He urged to them that he heing designed up the Coast there was no occasion for their goeing down, hut this we suppose did not suit with their orders. By what we can understand they are resolved to keep them from Petre, and wee heleive if possible from returning to Ffrance ; they have a ffleet att Bengali and another that cruises off the head of Acheen to prevent their goeing to Siammerjee or Pennassaree. Their goeing down the Coast we hope will secure our ships navigateing hither, whom we impatiently expect. The risque Ml. Burniston &El has run in comeing up the Coast has been extraordinary great. Had they met with our advices which have gone hy sundry conveyances they must have returned to have come up with Commaudore Hunton, hut by their actions we suppose they have mist alL Wee designe to proceed to lade the "Thomas" with all expedition as soon as she gets into yL_ road, and shall not stay for any goods from y?_ except we receive advices from you that you can speedily send us some. CapL Pye hath left provisions and stores at Swalley as p. enclosed list, which we would have you send hither in some boat or other as soon as possible. Use all possible dilligence to get the coffee garbled and the cloth washt. We hourly waite the arrivall of your good news from Court.

Yours,

J. G. W. A. B. S.

P. S. — By a letter from Mr_ Traverse of the 3^. January he advices that the " King William " is arrived Point de Galla. Send us with all possible speed an account of the * Thomas's " damage as we formerly ordered you to adjust it, and such an abstract of our Masters debts, cridits and goods as they wrote for in the 6^ paragraph of their letter of y"L 6!* June 1694 and an account of the cargoes of these three last ships as said Masters have orderd in a post script of said letter.

Wee have detained Auga Peeree Callenders Cossets in hopes of sending y2_ good news by them, which now, God be thanked, we are enabled to doe, for last night here arrived in safety the " America " and " Emerald " to our great joy, which is much increased by the great risque they have run. We have not yet opened any letters, but shall dispatch other Cossetts speedily after these, by which shall send your letters &Si. Send the enclosed Dutch letter im- mediately to the Director.

F/eb'y 20'lL, 1695. 6 b 1245—41

162

BOMBAY LETTERS.

R* Worspl Sam I Annesley,

President & Councill.

Yesterday evening 5 saile of ships being seen in the offing at anchor, we sent off the '• Emerald " to discover what they were, ordering her to anchor short of them in the night, and to weigh in the morning and stand as near them as possible with safety, which she did, and then stood in again makeing the signall that was orderd if they were Ffrench, and the smallest ship which seems to saile well stood in after her within 4 or 5 miles of the road, but fearing to stand any farther he tackt and stood off again. Those 5 ships are now at anchor off Old Womans Island, designing as we suppose to ply up towards Suratt. It is our opinion that three men of war that were formerly at anchor here have laine off out of sight,and that the time be expired for the other two cruising to the n<Lward, they have according to order joyned. We dispatch these Cossetts express that you may be the better provided to give the necessary ordl? to our ships in Swalley Hole, from whence we doe not think it safe for them to remove as long as weather will p.mitt to lye there, but if they are att the rivers mouth ladeing for Moco ere this arrives, you must get security for them from the Government, or else order y2E into Swalley again, except can they undertake to carry their ships about to Dieu, and so make their escape hither, or on their voyage to Moco, or up Surat river, which latter we think very hazardous ; but if necessity requires, of all the evills you must choose the least. We mention all these for yL we know not how to give possitive orders, not knowing how your circumstances may be with the Government.

"Wee can scarce believe that all 5 ships will goe up to Suratt rivers mouth at this time, but rather think that the three men of war will see the two merchant men as high as Saint Johns and then proceed to the SJL wards, but (you) knowing what goods they have provided, will probably be able better to guess of their designs than we can. Two daies since we dispatcht a Munchua towards Suratt in quest of the Ffrench, being unwilling to dispatch the " Thomas " ere we knew where they were.

The Portugueeze are prepareing for some great designe as they give out against Muscat as you wrote us in your last, but whether any thing will be done more than last year we dont know. Muttabar Caun threatens them very hard with warr, which has caused a proclamation to be issued out at Buseine for all the out habitants to bring in their riches into the ffort, and one thousand Curumbees is fled from their countrey to Guilan. If any ship be goeing to Persia, faile not to advise our ffreinds there that the Ffrench are still on this Coast, and that we are not certaine wi they will goe off, for it is probable some of our Masters ships as well as the Ketch may be now there. Advise of the same news to Madrass and Bengali if any conveyance offers. We designe to dispatch a boat down the Coast with advices this morning for all Eng ■. and Dutch ships.

Bombay Castle, March 18$ 1695-96.

Wee have kept the Cossetts till this morning, that we might advice yJl what more we could concerning the Ffrench, and now we have onely to add that all five are anchor in the Bay be- tween Old Womans Island and Mallabar Hill. Our youngest coach ox is dead, send us another to match that which remains overland as soon as you can. Ditto 14* .

Your &i3

JN o GAYER. JN° BURNISTOX. THOA PATTLE. WA1 AISLABIE. BENJ A STAGEY.

BOMBAY LETTERS. 163

RJL Worp ' Sam' Annesley, President & Councill.

Our last to you was 1 h«- 17 "' ins *_, Yours of the 17 ^ and 19* ins * we rec£. this day with nil papers enclosed, ami arc not a little surprized to hear that you should attempt by \iolence in the Kings port to hinder the, Ffrench exporting their goods, when two of our Masters ships lye exposed at Swallev Hole to the revenge Of their 5 ships, which certainly you couhl not hut expect seeing their goo Is is come down in a readiness for them to lade. If this action doth not produce very ill effects, we must impute it to the Ft'renohs fear of the approaching Dutch, or some other extraordinary curb.

Wee are sorry to hear that the President has been under so great indisposition, and much concerned at the inhumanity of the Brokers and your Jayler. Time probably will discover which of them is most guilty.

Wee will write; A. IVeree of his disrespect to you, and caution him for the future to give

due observance to your orders as tenders the It. II. Companies favour to him and his

coun trey men.

Good news from Court will be very acceptable, especially now we have been so long under expectation thereof. That of the Pyrates doeing further mischief in Persia we are con- cerned at, but it is happened to him that most deserves punishment. Wee shall be glad to hear it confirmed that that Pyrate is destroyed, and wish all the re3t of his cast may meet with no better success.

Yesterday here imported a small Dutch vessell named the " Matroos" in whome is Mynheer Ketting, Commissary and Directore for the Netherlandish EA India Company at Surat. He left the 7 Dutch ships that sailed hence and Commaudore Hunton with 5 ships more at Goa ; the latter they expect here speedily. In the skirmish with the Ffrench they say they had 4 men killed and 16 wounded, and that the Ffrench fled in y_l night, no more than two of the 7 Dutch haveing engaged.

Wee suppose the " Benjamin " and " Moco " cannot come out with safety while the Ffrench remaine where you write they are ; but as soon as they are gone, we would have yJL order them to Suratt rivers mouth, and procure for them if you can freights to Persia and Bussora, provided they may be back again by the latter end of November. By reason of the Pyrates we hope the {freights may be such as will in some measure be answerable to their charge.

Your &?* Bombay Castle, March 26%, 1696. JN° GAYER.

Wee see no reasons why we should give passes JN 9. BURNISTON.

to any, and have lately wrote you that we design- W^_ AISLABIE,

ed to give none while things remained as they TH05.PATTLB.

were. BENJA STACEY.

May it please Your Excellency,

Wee have been favoured with YoJL Exc?L letter dated the 29^ Oc_± last, which confirm to us the sad news of our R. H. Masters misfortune in Suratt, which we heartily lament, wish- ing that a speedy issue may suddainly follow to your Exc^i content and satisfaction of us all, none being more sensible of the miseries and afflictions that attend p.sons under the Moores confinements then ourselves, to remove which and all other impediments and to bring things into right form again, the method your Exc L. hath been pleased to think off in proposeing a convoy for the secureing f uturely their Moco ships is beyound our capacities to express, and

164 BOMBAY LETTERS.

inevitable will clear all objections and pretences that are, or hereafter may be made on this un- happy accident. Wee cannot but return your ExcZ. our most hearty thanks for the care you have been pleased to take of us in giveing us this timely notice in case the Kings order should reach this place to prevent surprize ; tho' we hope and are of opinion there is no danger, the busyness being of an old date, suppose may blow over, and the disposition of this present Government so mild and quiet, that if any thing extraordinary should happen beyound our expectations the Kings interest would be considered by them, and have more influence (espe- cially on the Duan) than any order that can arrive in such a manner as that is ; however to be forewarned is to be forearmed. We shall not neglect our owne preservation, but prepare for the worst, and get in all the R. H. Cj, effects (of which the greatest part is already come in, and but little aboard), and as we see occasion send for our R. H. Masters servJl from Pattana, the Mintle, Radnagur and Ballasore, haveing near finished our busyness for this year, so that there will be little or no occasion to keep any p.sons at those places untill the R. H. C J. shipping and a stock arrive to goe on with the ensueing years business. But to our great concern we have rec * no advices from our R. H. Masters, neither by sea nor land since those by the " Martha" and " Success " last year, which hath proved a great disappointment to us, in reguard in the beginning of the year we had made provision for goods enough to have laden two ships at least home this season, whereas now a great p L of our R. H. Masters effects will lye in the countrey another year, haveing only ship " Martha" to dispatch, which we cpiestion not but to compleat in 15 days with her Charter p*Z, time and a rich ship.

Wee cannot but acquaint your Exc L that since the news of the troubles at Surat, and no ships arrived, the merchants have been very backward in bringing in goods, which we formerly used to buy for ready money; and are not less backward in lending us money for our necessary occasions, the want whereof hath occasioned us to write to the Honbli President &_£? att Madrass for a supply. Wee are likewise at interest for near one hundred and fivety thousand rupees and shall want as much more to clear this years investm_^ it* the merchants bring in their goods according to their contracts, but we hope in the meantime a ship will drop in from England, otherwise we shall be greatly streightened.

Wee returne your Exc X. our most hearty thanks for the severall newspapers you have been pleased to remit us ; we have had severall reports of Ffrench ships being set out for India, but no certainty of any that is arrived on this side of India.

Wee observe your Exc£? directions as to Mahmud Said and assisting the Nocquidah in those ships he hath here in Bengalla which we shall be ready to p.forme on all occasions on their application to us, or otherwise, and shall order all Commanders and Masters of ships that saile und £_ the R. H. Companies protection to treat them with all civility wherever they meet them.

Wee have not more to add at p!l, save to wish your ExcX all health, hapyness and success in all your undertakings, which is the earnest desire of

Your &c» Wee have sent your Exc y. enclosed Bombay CHARLES EYRE,

and Suratt account curr_l with us since our JN^L BEARD,

last comeing to Bengali. R. BORADDYLL.

Idem. C. E. EDW£ CORMELL,

J. B. R. B. E. C. Chutanuttee, J aim 3(L, 1695*96.

BOMBAY LETTERS. 165

Oap_L Edgecombe. Gombroon, Aug-L the 24Jh, 1G95.

s.r.

The many abuses I have recfL from you, with your unjust, illegall and arbitrary proceed- ings against me by a pretended power as Cap l of an East India ship, hath made me assume the liberty to informe you that your beating me w*Jl your cutlass at Mohilla upon the 15il? March, with your beating & wounding me of 19 * June, as also beating my servant and barber the same day without any crime and your makeing me fast in order to duck me upon the 21 **. June, which is the next punishment unto death and not to be inflicted without martiall law, after a suffic4 triall and proof of being guilty of some notorious crime ; but your accusation proveing false both before your officers and men rendred the ducking odious to them, in so much that they would not obey you notwithstanding your cutlass and threatning, knowing innosence and your justice; your sendeing your Steward to your Cooke, with your order not to let the barber or my servant come into the cook roome, and if they come, to take notice that they should not throw any of my powders amongst your victualls ; for you did believe your self poysoned or had gotten a dose already in your water gruell, because for the four days past you was not well nor could not eat ; your detaining me as a prisoner on board without letting me know the cause ; your keeping and detaining three pints of Cordiall waters on board belonging to me, w<^L I had presented to MJL Popham in a small case of his : your hindreing me from sending some goods ashoar which I had the Compa- nies liberty for ; your denying severall other priviledges that are due to me as Chirurgeon ; your threatening me with the law of Olerone, which I presume you have forgetting, or else would not have exceeded them so often as you have done this voyage, SJL you may impose upon some of your officers and sailors who doe not understand them laws ; bat know that I have read all the marine laws in practice, and p.ticularly those of Olerone Wisby and the Hans townes ; with the statute laws appointed by King Charles the Second for the regulateing the Navy Royall, with Jure Maritime and Lex Mercatoria relateing to marine laws; and have read some of the common and statute laws of England ; as also of the civill laws upon which both the other depends, and am sensible that your proceedings with me and some others on board are illegal and without a precedent, for no man by the law of Olerone is to be beaten for lyeing on shoar ; but his wage3 are to be deducted for the time, and what damages are sustained by his absence, he is to make good ; neither is any man obliged to receive from a Master of a merchant ship any more than one blow and retire, if the Master p.sue him he has liberty to defend himself; all Commission relateing to martiall or marine laws without instructions are void, and all Commissions relateing to marine affairs which are not from the Commissioners of the Admiralty are void by a grant from their Majesties to them, dureing his Majesties continueing them in their office. As for a pretend- ed or assumed power as Cap! of an East India mm it is both illegall and arbitrary, and a master of a Collier of 50 tons to Newcastle may assume the same power as legally as an East India man. All this I have concealed hitherto (notwithstanding the just provocations I have had from you to doe otherwise and shall for some time still doe the same) both from your officers and sailors lest it should lessen your and your officers command over your sailors. Si., I have served their Majesties in three severall of their capitall ships as Master Chirurgeon, I have served them also as principall Surgeon to their hospitall at Plymoth and Surrey or over all surgeons of the western ports of England, and likewise I have served as Chirurgeon Gene- rail of their Majesties hospitalls in Flanders, and since as Chirurgeon to his Majesties household, where I was intrusted with his p.son dureing the time of the engagement against the Ffrench at Landew. I have had betwixt five and six thousand wounded men under my care for cure this war ; and have been intrusted with about fourty thousand pounds of their Majesties moneys which I did faithfully dispence to the uses I had it for, for all the services I have ample b 1255-42

166 BOMBAY LETTERS.

Certificates to show ; yet am taxed by you as a rogue and cheat and imbeezler of the medicines belonging to the ship. Therefore to cure you of that jealousie I have here inclosed sent you the list of what medicines were at first in the Chest as also what medicines have been expended, which does not vallue of 5 pounds. Your Chest and medicines cost £3-5 and I doe affirme there is not a bad or spoiled medicine amongst them, which by my care I have preserved. Sz_, in consideration of the abuses I have received from you, the denying me the priviledges and liberty which all Chirurgeons enjoy, I d:>e desire you to let me know what my crimes are, being hitherto ignorant of them ; and if I doe not acquit myself oE my accusation and plainly make it appear that your informers are prating and malitious rogues, I will willing suffer what punishment you will please to inflict upon me, and will pablickly beg your pardon with all submission immagineable and true sorrow if guilty. S.£, your complying with this just and modest desire of mine will make me forget all the injuries done to me and re-establish that love and respect which I bore to you before the Mohilla abuses. Si, I humbly beg you to take this into consideration, for if this is not complyed within three days, I will deliver you your keys of your Chest and will act no longer as Chirurgeon of your ship, let the consequences of it be what it will. I therefore desire if you doe not come on board yourself, that you would let me come ashoar, that I may prove myselfe either an honest man or a rogue, and I shall always acknowledge the obligation and ever after remainc

SJL Your most humble servant, JOHN LECKIB.

M^ Euclid Baker,

Haveing your men, provisions, & necessarys on board, these are to order you, wind and weather permitting, to weigh y4 anchors, set sayle, and make the best of your way to Surat rivers mouth or SwalleyHole, where j± shall find our ships to ride. We farther require y_£ to keep a good watch, your men in due decorum, yJL deck clear, and the vessel! alwaies in a posture of defence, that yJL may not be surprized by any Rovers or others that may offer to

attack you. Take care of our packett to the General and Council wsjL we herewith deliver you.

So commit you to the Divine protection, and remaine

Your Loving Ffriends, BbJ$> Castle, Nov*,. y±. 28*, 1700. J_o BURNISTON.

WILL. AISLABIE. BENJ A STACEY.

Serjl Greenston,

On reel hereof, wind and tyde permitting, weigh your anchor and make the best of your way (in company w^ the Rl Hon!^ Comp.1 Bony boat) to Mahim, where being arrived y ° are to take such men as Liui Shaw shall put on board her, after w^ you are to cruize between Busseen and Mahim, and if you can, speak w^ every boat y£. meet, but give none chase. Be sure keep alwaies close to si Bony, and upon no ace J w J ever loose her comp.B. Offend none, but defend yJ^self agi all that shall molest or attack yJL. Should you happen to meet any

BOM It A Y LETTERS. 167

mercht8 boats bound hither, fake them under yL. convoy, or if any that belong to this place are taken by the Savajees, do your utmost endeavour to retake them. Every evening make the best of yr way to Mahim river, but should it so happen that y °r cannot reach it, y ? are to anchor in y £ securest place under Mallabar hill, whereto yf Tindall will direct, but if possible we wd ha ve y ° gett into y* river by reason you will there meet w!^ our orders. Keep your men in due order and live peacably one wi^ another.

Your Loving Ffriends, Bhl» Castle, NovL yl. 29% 1700. JN g BURNISTON.

WILLM AISLAB1E. BENJ ^ STACEY.

Whereas wee have been credibly informed of your ability and putting and reposeing confidence in your integrity, wee doe hereby constitute and appoynt you, Christopher Boone, to be Coroner of this Island Bombay, requireing you att all times to be in a readiness to execute the office when you shall be thereunto called, hereby impowering you to sumon a Jury of y± next inhabitants to make inquest of y% death of any person or persons that shall come to their deaths by any unnaturall or extraordinary means whatsoever, and that you take no more for the execution of your office than 13-? & 4i for seeing on y± corpes of any one person, and thai y,? same sumrae be levied of y4 murderers estate if it may be found, but if not, that there then be an assessment made by the Chamber of yi. cast that the defunct is of for the said summe of thirteen shillings and four pence and no more, and wee doe hereby further require you as you will answer the contrary att your perill, that you be not of councill w!^ any person whatsoever in hideing y • murther of any person, nor that you neither directly nor indirectly take any bribe of any person whatsoever to mittigate or lessen any offence, but that you proceed in your said office wth. integrity and honesty, as in yJL sight of God Almighty, who will certainely require innocent blood att your hands if you conceale the same. Given under our hands and sealed w^ the Rl HonbJf Comp?? seale this 13^ day of June, Anno Domini 1701.

JOHN BURNISTON. W" AISLABIE. BENJ ^ STACEY.

L* W™ Shaw,

Your letter to the Deputy Govern ? dated yesterday he received last night, to which wee answer.

Wee are sorry to understand that there should be any person on this Island so disre- spectfull to Government as to tear our Proclamation, but since there is and that so high a mis- demeanour may (if possible) be duely rewarded, wee would have you give publick notice that any person that shall discover the said offender to you shall be liberally rewarded for his paines.

The Sec1? sent you yesterday by our direction an order requireing you thereby not upon any account whatsoever, except in your owne defence, to discharge (w*5 ball & ol) any one or more of your great gunns att any boat that shall pass up or downe Mahiin river, and did therein likewise advise you that to prevent any infringement of our privileges, defraudes in yJL customes or disrespect being offered us, wee would very speedily send you one of our large Manchuas to lye and cruize in said river, the which order you are to observe, and when the Manchua is with you wee would have you by her without any blood being shed. Cause all boates that shall pass up or downe said river as aforesaid to pay us y± accustomary dutyes except the King of Portugalls owne boates, w?^ you are to lett pass without interruption.

168 BOMBAY LETTERS.

Lett your people begin to pull downe all the old Warehouses belonging to the RA Hon^?

Comp^ att Mahim, except that which you spoke to Capt!L Stacey off, w^ lett stand till wee order the contrary.

If y e Boney and long boat are not fitt for your turne, send them downe to us and hire two boats in tL ur stead,

DZ, y£ 26*, 1701. Yji Loving Ffriends.

L. Corp." Jn^ Mitchell.

These are to inorder you to weigh your anchors and having rec^ on board you Capi Stacys son-in-law, make the best of your way to robin the Buchers Island, hearing the Portuguese have bin there and cutt down severall trees. Examine into that matter, y.2 return and bring acco1^ thereof to

Y* Loving Ffriends,

Bombay Castle, November yi. 29% 1701. JNO BURNISTON.

WM AISLABIE. BENJ. STACEY.

The Worsp^ Jn? Burniston, Dep*^ Gov I of His Majestyes Fort and Island, Bombay, & Councill for Affa_L. of the R±. Hon^S? Govern! and Company of Merchants of London trading to the East Indies.

By virtue of a power given us from his Ex^ Si Jn^ Gayer Kni General of India, whose authority is granti. him by a Commission from yl R* H. GovI.& Compi of Merchants of London tradeing to y £ EL*. Indies, by virtue of his Majestys and his Royall predecessors Royall Charters and Letters Patents, as likewise by a late Act of Parliament granted said Comp*, wee do constitute and appoint y ° Edwi Simond to be Provost Marshall of his Majestys Garrison and Island, B&*?, hereby given y± full power and authority to execute y *. ffree exercise of yol said office, according to the tenour of your instructions herew^ given y^., command £ you to fulfill the same to all intents and purposes, willing and enjoyning all inferior officers and souldiers of the said Garrison to obey and assist yiL in and about y£ p.formance and execution of your said office, being thereunto required. Y SL are likewise to observe and follow all such ord^? and directions as from time to time you shall receive from us, or in our absence from whomesoever shall be appointed. Sealed w!l* yi. R*, H. Gl Seale, and given under our hands in Bombay Castle the Eleventh day of Aprill one thousand seven hundred and one.

jo BURNISTON. W^! AISLABIE. BENJ> STACEY.

Instructions for Edwi Simonds, Marshall.

Noe officer or souldier shall presume to hinder the Provost Marshall or Serv * in y± execution of their office upon paine of death, or such other punishm*! as a Court Marshall shall thinke fitt, and all Capil Officers, and Souldiers shall doe their utmost to apprehend and bring to punishment all offenders ; and shall assist yiL offic™ of his Majestys army or fforces therein especially if the Provost Marshall or his officer requiring the assists of any officer or souldl in apprehends p!£5, declaring to y5 jr.*. it is for a capitall crime, and if party escapes for want of aid and assist^, y£ p.ty or p.tys refuseingto aid, and assist, shall suffer such punishment as a Court Marshall shall inflict.

BOMBAY LETTERS.

160

2">r If any officer or souldJl who shall presume to draw his sword in any place of judicature while yy. Court is BittJj shall suffer such punishm Jj as sliall be inflicted on him by a Court Marshall, iind the Provost Marshall of his Majestys Army is hereby impowered and directs by his owne authority to apprehend such offenders.

3d]y_ If any souldiers being committed for any offence shall break prison, the said Provost Marshall shall by his owne authority apprehend him, and the offend L shall suffer death.

4thiy No Provost Marshall shall refuse to receive or keep a prisoner committed to his charge, by authority or shall dismiss him w^out order upon paine of such punishm A as a Court Marshall shall thinke fitt ; and if y_f. offence for which y± prisoner was apprehended deserved death, yJL Provost Marshall failing to receive and keep him shall be liable to the same punishm 1.

;Vhly If any person be committed by yi Provost Marshalls owne authority w*J?out other command, he shall acquaint yl cheif officer w^ the cause w!5in 24 hours, & yl Provost Marshall shall y^Supon dismiss him unless he have orders to the contrary.

List of the HonhJl Gompanys Covenant Servants at Bombay and Factory* subordinate with the time of their arrival in India, at tvhat Salarys, and likewise their present Salarys and Employments.

At what Place.	Persons Names and Employm— .	Time o{ their arrival in India.	At what Salary.	Present Salary.	Title*.
'	The Hon^ John Home, Esqr7
	President and Governour ...	September 2055, 1714.	15	300	Treasurer.
	The W° George Taylor,
Bombay •••"	Esql., Accompi & B^
	Custom Master	November 18*1', 1709.	15	100	2<B~ in Councill.
	Ml George Percivall, Ware-
s	housekL	December 17*. 1712.	5	70	3^ D°
Tellicherry	Mi. Stephen Law, Chief	November 18*, 1715.	5	40	4th D°L
Surat	Ml-Jn° Lambton, Chief ..	August 17"l, 1731 ...	40	100	5th do
Anjengo	M L WB Wake, Chief Ml Charles Whitehill, Land	September i 1^5, 1732.	40	40	6^ D.2
f	Pay;r.	November 18_th, 1715.	5	50	7th D«
Bombay ..•■'	Ml ThoJ Waters	August 19*:, 1733 ...	40	40	8* v'i
Mi ThoJ Stonestreet, Mar
	Payml	March 9% 1721-2 ...	5	40	9th T)o
	Francis Strudwick ...	December 29*-, 1710.	15	40	Seni Merchi.
Anjengo	James Salisbury, Warehouse-
	kJi	November, 18*, 1715.	5	40	D-?
Gombroon	Jn2 Geekie, Agent ...	June 111, 1721'	15	150	D4
Surat	James Hope, at present at
	B5S	SeptJL 22 ±, 1718 ...	5	40	D°
Bombay	Tho'» Pattle	May i 8*, "l 71 9	5	40	D5
Tellicherry	Hugh Howard, designed Home	January 18*, 1721-2 .	15	40	Di
Surat	Thoi Bedshaw, Purser Ma-
	rine ... ... ... •	March 8Lh, 1720-1 .	5	40	D°
Tellicherry	Wi? Jeynson	Do. 9'±, 1721-2 .	5	40	Di
i	Nicholas Goodwin ...		5	40	Di
Bombay ... <	Jm? Morloy, EtegistX, Mayors
Court & Collector of the
	Rev.1	September 25*^, 1725.	15	40	D-2

B 1255—43

170

BOMBAY LETTERS.

At what place.	Persons Names and Employm— .	Time of their arrival in India.	At what Salary.	Present Salary.	Titles.
Bussorah	Nathaniel Whittwell, Resident		5	40	Seul MerchJ
Bombay ...*	W? Sedgewicke, Clerk of
the Market and Mayer		5	102	D°
Geo. Dudley, GenI Store-
keep-L	December IS?, 1728 .	15	40	D°
Tellicherry I	James Verels Thol Marsh, Mahim Custom	January 7*, 1726 ...	5	40	DA
Bombay ...<	Master		5	40	DJ?
(	Jn.£ Dacres, Secretary		5	40	Di
Gombroon	S*. Geo. Pach, WarehousekJ	April 14ft, 1727 ...	5	40	Do
f	Hugh Bidwell SenJL ... .".	August 2(B,173<>...	15	40	d»;
Bombay ...<	James Stuart, Sheriff & Coro-
1	ner ...		15	40	Di
Gombroon	Walter Ray, Steward		5	40	dI
r	Edward Owen, Mint Mi. and
Bombay ...«j	Assist J to the President ... Robert Rawdon, AssistJ to	August 20*, 1730 ...	5	30	Jun «L Merch * .
I	the Land Pay J	September 16*. 1732.	15	30	Di
Cambay	Jn5 Munro, ' ResidJ ...	August 20*3, 1780 ...	5	30	Di
Bombay	Jn^ Cleland, Portugueze Sec- retary, Overseer of the Oarts
	and Collector of the Pension.	October 18J., 1729 ...	5	30	D£
Anjengo	Richard Sanders, Secretary
	& Store ki ...	September 165, 1732.	5	30	D^
Bombay	George Scott, Assist! to y£
	Marine Paym-L	August 20*5, 1730 ...	5	30	T>°
Tellicherry	William West, .' '. . Pay ml . . .		5	30	D?,
r Bombay ...^	John Sewell, Deputy Accompt-
ant and Assistant in the Bank		5	70	D°
I	Richard Lynch		5	30	Di
Surafc	Wj? Lowther, designed to
	Bombay	July 19'A, 1731 ...	5	15	Factor.
Bombay	Samuel Price, Deputy Secre-
	tary ...		5	30	D5
Surafc		June 9*3, 1737	15	15	D-°
Gombroon	Henry Savage	September 1 1*5,1732.	5	15	D4
Bombay ...	Henry Bertie...	D° 16*, d° .	5	15	Di
Anjengo	ThoJ Lane	D° 11* d° .	5	15	D-°r
Bussorah ...	ThoJL Dorill, AssistJ to Resi-
	dent...		5	15	D?
r	Charles Crommelm, Di to the
Storekeeper		5	15	D?,
Bombay ...■<	Wi? Davis, ... Assay Master	November 27*. 1737.	15	95	Di
1	James Henry Lamb, designee
for Surat ...	September 5«L, 1738 .	15	15	Di
Gombroon ,,,	JniL Person ...	D? 25* 1734...	5	5	Writer.
Bombay	Geo Sadleir, AssistJ- to the
	Bombay Custom	December 26*3 &?. .	5	5	D-?
Tellicherry	John Goodere, Di in the
	office		5	5	D.?.
s	John Lemon Brandling, D?
	to the Accomptant...		5	5	D°.
	Jni Burchall, D.2 to the	►
Bombay ...•{	Resident Hugh Symons, DR to Secre-		5	5	D»
	tary		5	15	Di
*	. May Sclater, D.» d^ ..	August 17*2?, 1736 ...	5	5	Di

BOMBAY LETTERS.

171

At what place.	Porsons Names and Kmploym— •	Time of their arrival in India.	At what Salary.	ttm "t Salary:	Title*.
Tellicherry r	Pugli Willis, D° in the office. Thoi By f eld, D° to the Ac-	November 27*, 1737.	5	15	Writer.
	comp_*		5	15	D°
Bombay ,..<,	Hugh Bidwell, Jun L B° to
the Presid l		5	5	D°
	Thof._ Hodges, J)S. to the
t	Secretary ...	June 9^,1737	5	5	Di
Gombroon	Danvers Graves		5	5	D£
-	William Nicholls, Assis.1 to
	Y~ Accomi.		5	5	r>4
	Phesaunt Crisp, D^ d-° ...		5	25	D5
	Charles Maningham, DS. to
Bombay . . . «	the Secretary Alexander Douglass, D.2. to	November 27*, 1737.	5	5	D»
	the Accom^	April 29'h, 1738 ...	5	5	D»
	Ju° Neilson ...	March 9th, 1732-3 ...	36	36	Surgeon.
«*	Michael Weston	May 5* 1738	36	36	D°.

List of Free Merchants, Seafaring men Sf&L constant and not constant at Bombay

and Factories subordinate.

Persona Names.	Employments.	Const t. Residence.	Residence when ashore
Free Merch'i..		Snrat, Bombay. D2_.
W™ Upton Rob* Nesbitt
Charles Douglas ... Seafaring Men, Anthony Upton Edw*_ Say Geo : Lambton ...
Supra Cargoe of y% "Mary" for Mallacca .. D£, of the " Martha " Grabb D^ of the " Shawallum " for Bengali Gone to Bengali In the "Mary" In d?, In no employ at present Comm;7 of the " Fame " D<L of the "Mary" D° of the " P. Frederick *' Master of the " Success " Di. of the "Robert" D% of the "Ann" D°. of the " Adventure "	Bombay. D° .
	Surat.
Mordecai Walker ...
Benj-5- Gerrish ... ... James Stephenson... Rob* Macneal
Jn^ Thorp Ralph Kellett Jn° Ewins ...		■ Bombay.
Geo : Goring
Walter Grant
Daniel Spicrman ... Geo : England

172

BOMBAY LETTERS.

Married Women.

Adriana Percival ... Martha Law Janes Lambton ... Elizabeth Wake ... Sarah Whitehill ... Susanna Morley ... Mary Dacres Ann Owen ... Lydia Lane Elizabeth Davis ... Charlotte Lucy Sadleir Mary Say ... Jane Lewis ... Mary Sandilands ... Ann Nunn ... Ann Moore... Ann Douglas Elizabeth Tranter... Mary Mackinley ...

Widows.

Ann Price ... Mary Johnson Eliz' Scarlett Orjana Clapham

Unmarried Women.

Hannah Bidwell Eliz' Owen Kath Omeghan

Boys.

Jn% Whitehill Henry Moore Jn9_ Mackinley

Girls.

Eliz' Tranter. Winifred ) „ Eliz' J uacres.

Katherine Morley

List of DecL Persons at Bombay and Factories subordinate from lsl. January 1737-38 to the 25t]L November 1738.

Place of their Decease.	Persona Names and Employments.	Times of their Decease.	Distempers.
Bombay	Jni Morley, a child	Jam* 1st	Convulsion Fits.
Tellicherry...	W2 Forbes, SenI Merch*	March 8"?	Nervous Fever.
Bombay	Sancta Morley, a child	May 8*	Convulsion Fits.
Do	Ml Eliz Vachery, Widow	„ 24*	Fever.
Gombroon ...	Capl Jnl Benoon, Comml of the
	"Rose "Galley	June 11*	Fever.
Bombay	Cap* Rob4 Wynn, Commi of the
	" Prince of Wales "	n 14*	Flux.
In the Gulph of Persia ...	Cap* Jn° Martin, CommL of the
	"Ann"Grabb	„ 15*	Fever.
Bombay	Edwd Jarvis, Lienti of the "Caro-
	line " Galley	July 10*	Fever and Flux.
Do.	Moreton Peachy, Surgeon of ye ...	November 10*	Consumption.

General instructions to the Commanders of the Hon*!? Companys Vessells.

During any Cruise you shall be directed to make or any station you shall be appointed by the President or Superintendent, you are to follow all such orders as you shall receive signed by the Superintendent for your management or conduct, observing (when you shall not by such be otherwise directed) these for your general! instructions —

18±. In the first place you are to take care to keep up the service of God on board the vessell you command according to the Liturgy of the Church of England, that the same be devoutly and decently performed every Lords Day &, on all other appointed seasons as often as can be done with conveniency, & be very strict in observing a good decorum & discipline among your ships Company, seveerly punishing all prophaness or blasphemers of Gods holy name and on no account permitt gaming of any sort.

2nt} Keep your vessell always in a posture of offending as well as defending, and speack with and examine all vessells you make that are not of superior force to you, taking out of such belonging to any Prince or State all British subjects you shall fipd on board them.

BOMB A T LETTERS. 1 73

3rd You are to take, burn, sink or otherwise destroy all Savajes or other Pirates infesting this coast as Angria, Uainrous of Antigerate, commonly cruising to t lie Southward, as well as the Sangarians, Cooleys or other Rovers harbouring to the Northward and commonly cruising on that coast and sometimes as far as the Gulph of Mocho & Persia that you at any time meet with, bringing such people, vessells & goods that you take belonging to them in hither for their condemnation.

4th All ships and vessells of the Sedys Fleet or otherwise belonging to the Mogull Emperor, as also all such ships or vessells helonging to Bajerov or Chimnajee Appa, you are civil to examine, so as not to give them disgust, and they proving such, give them no molesta- tion but any aid or assistance they stand in need of.

5*^ Kempsaunt who has a port between Vingorly rocks & Goa is at pease with us & at warr with Angria. When you meet his fleet they will send a Gallivatt with green colours to speak with you, and you are to treat them as ffriends, and should they offer to join you & go against Angria, you are to permitt them, but allways under your command.

6!!l And you are hereby ordered to protect and defend and give convoy to all ships and vessells under English colours duly licensi to wear them, and to no others excepting such as who by accident shall fall into your company & be able to keep way with you, but not to lose time by shortining sail or seeing them into Ports or any duration whatsoever.

7* That at any time you meet with any vessell of war or merchandize under red collours tho they may pretend to belong to the Seddee or Bajerov, if you have reason to suspect that they are not what they pretend, but enemys, you are to bring them in here. Your Serangs and Tindalls will be best able to inform you on this matter, as they know and can distinguish the Seddees subjects or vessells from all others that frequent these seas.

8* The Brittish soldiers & seamen who desert from this Island having usually taken service in the ships belonging to Bengali and Madrass, vainly flattering themselves that by taking such service they were screened from our authority and the punishments due to their crimes, to discountenance as much as in us lies a practice of such Evil Tendancy to the safety and welfare of this Government, we hereby authorize you to seize all such Deserters when and whereso- ever you may meet them, taking care to secure them in a proper manner untill you have an opportunity to report them to us or the Superintendent, and for the better executing of these our orders and keeping up an exact register of all deserters, which you are to do on board your ship, you will have a list given you of their names and you are to do the like to the other Com- manders for all those that may desert from your own ship, certifying when and where and how many go at a time & report the same

9th Likewise to the Superintendent. And whereas we are given to understand that an ill use is made of our Indulgence in permitting you to sell Arrack to your ships Company, in so much that the remainder of their wages is not sufficient to provide them common necessarys & from thence they become discontended & mutinous and are induced at last to desert, we hereby strictly enjoin you upon pain of dismission not to sell more then one bottle p. day to a mess of five men and in proportion to a mess of four or three, neither are you to demand or receive more than 1 Rupee and a Quarter p. gallon, on the like penalty.

10th You are not to discharge or exchange any of your seamen, nor to prefer them to posts of trust and better pay, nor to discharge any Warant Officer without leave first obtained from the President or Superintendent, and as in eases of Infidelity, Disobedience or Incapacity you have power of suspension, therefore you are not to proceed any further without leave first obtained as above. b 11255 — 14

174

BOMBAY LETTERS.

Ijth You have our permission to list as many able men as you can, reporting them to the Superintendent, but beware of encourageing any of the seamen belonging to the Europe ships to desert on pain of our severest censure, and this you must likewise give in charge to all the officers belonging to your ship.

12*^ In case of a vacancy happening by the death or suspension of a Warant Officer, you may recommend those you think best qualified to fill up such vacancy, but they are not to receive any advance in their pay till they are confermed by the President or Superintendent.

13^ Wee have thought fitt to appoint a person to be on board you as a Steward or Purser, who is to have the immediate charge of all the Companys provisions and is to be accountable to the Superintendent for the same, and we in an especial manner recommend to you that no waste or embezlement be made of the ammunition & stores in general, & that all stores and provisions be carefully preserved on such penaltys & punishments on the offender as shall be judged reasonable & the crime may deserve. Wee are

Bombay Castle, yl 28th Aug*. 1739.

Your Loving Ffriends, STEPHEN LAW. CHARLES RIGBY. JOHN GECKIE. THO§ STONESTREET. JOHN MORLEY.

By the Hon^_? Stephen Law, Esquire, President and Governor of his Majestys Castle and Island Bombay and all its Dependencies : —

Publication.

Whereas the said President and Governor by and with the advice and consent of his Council hath been pleased to establish Rules calculated to preserve order within the said Town as well as tending to the publick benefit and security of the Island in general, which that all persons may be apprized of and none plead ignorance hereafter, he hath caus'd these pre- sents to be published by beat of drum and affixed at the usual places, hereby requiring and commanding all persons, whether foreigners or inhabitants of this Island, to take due notice and under obedience to the following orders :

Mess^ Rob-L Rawdon and Thomas Stoneham being appointed to take a list of all house- keepers living within this Town, examining into their characters, casts, how long they have been inhabitants and what is their families, as also of all arms or ammunition that may be in their possession, so the said President and Governor doth require all persons to aid and assist them in their enquiry, giving them all possible information and rendring them just and true accounts with regard to the above particulars, and it is hereby further ordered a*nd directed that from and after publication hereof no person inhabitant of this Island do presume to purchase any offen- sive weapons or munition of warr of whatsoever kind without leave first obtained from the President and Council.

That the gates of the Town will be shutt, namely the Apollo and Church at sunsett and the Buzar within half an hour after sunsett, and for the present to notify the time to all persons a drum will begin beating at each gate a quarter of an hour after sunsett and continue beating a quarter of an hour (tho hereafter the signal will be by a large Bell at the Buzar Gate which with those of the English Church and Fort will ring the like space beginning at the same time) when all inhabitants living within the toAvn are to repair home and those living without are to go out before the drum has done beating or bell ringing as it shall happen to be, after which time no house-keeper on any pretence is to presume to entertain any strangers without the

BOMBAY LETTERS. 175

previous license of the Governor or in his ahsence the second for the time being, and as many boats are constantly Lying ;it the Mandavic and Moodys Bay either on trade or other occasions, all persons belonging to them are to repair on board their respective vessels before the gates are shutt, nor must the Nocquedahs or others belonging to any foreign vessels remain on shore without the permission of the Governor or second in his absence. That in future no person erect any dwelling house within this Town without leave first had from the Governor and the Landpaymaster, & on that being ohtained to cause the Engineer to line out such house in a regular manner for bringing the streets into order, and for which service the Engineer is to receive if a tiled house five rupees as a reward for his trouble from the person so intending to build, but if a cajan house belonging and desigi*. for any in the Companys service then nothing, thJL of all others one rupee and no more.

The passages leading to the waterside between the Bunder and Marine Yard and the back gates of all private houses within that space must be shutt up, excepting that of the Marine House and old Bunder, which last is to be shutt precisely at ten at night unless orders are given to the contrary, and all that want to come and go from the waterside must pass and repass thr.2. the said old Bunder and by no other passage whatsoever after sunsett.

In order to have a certain account of all inhabitants of this Island the said President and Governor hath nominated M * William Davis and Edward Say with the assistance of the Ver- eadores and other proper persons to enquire into the several house-keepers characters, number of their familys, and what arms or ammunition in their several possessions within the Town and the District of Bombay lying without the Town, and Ml. Charles Crommelin and George Sadlier for that of Malum, to whom all persons are to be assisting and give them all possible satisfaction in their enquirys.

Given in Bombay Castle this Second day of February in the Fifteenth Year of the reign of his most excellent Majesty George the Second of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, &ci in the year of our Lord 1741-42.

By Order of the Honourable

STEPHEN LAW, Esq??, President and Governor of Bombay &c± in Council.

By the Hon ^! Stephen Law, Esq??, President and Governor of his Majestys Castle and Island Bombay and its Dependencies : —

Publication.

Whereas the said President and Governor doth hereby notifie to the several Inhabitants whose habitations are without the Town Wall within the line of 300 yards and consequently by the orders of him and his Council to be taken down, that such of them who are of substance and credit and Milling to come and dwell within the Town, that they do within three days from the publication hereof signitie to Ml John Morley, Landpaymaster, such their desire, acquainting him of their respective names and number of persons their familys consists of, when the proper orders will be given and convenient places allotted for their accommodation. Given in Bombay Castle this 11^ day of February 1741-2.

By order of the Honourable

STEPHEN LAW, Esq™, President and Governor of Bombay &c • in Council.

SELECTIONS

FROM

THE SURAT DIARIES,

ieeo-1781.

fi 125;— 1.5

SELECTIONS

FKOM

THE SURAT DIARIES,

(1660—1781).

Consultation on Swally Marine, |7* January 1GGO.

Whereas there are severall summes of moneys brought to the Hon?!? CompM accompt by Ml Henry Revington, Esql, in their Rajapore bookes ws!l wee thinke unreasonable, as first his bringing 5 per cent, ffactoradge, viz. M^? 6996 : 16 pice, on the goodes provided by him in Raja- pore, before the visiting of this newe generall stocke, w?i goodes were turned over to the old stockes accompt ; the said summe was denyed by President Wyche and Councell to be allowed, but that it should be referred to our Hon™6 Employers, Ml Revington being here at the same tyme, notwithstanding yl determination, the said Henry Revington hath brought yl summe forward to accompt, the HonPi? Comp* as yet not giving their consent.

Secondly, as said Ml Revingtons going away from hence he gave unto severall brokers

servants unto the Hon?J? Company presents to the amount of M?± 838 and placed it toy J!

Uniti Joynt Stockes accompt.

Thirdly, uppon newes of the death of P* Wyche, the said Ml Revington sent cossets from Rajapore to Persia overland to the exceeding charge of the Hon?Ie Compl bringing to their accompt for the same Rup4 259 : 28 p.

These things being acted contrary to reason, and the consent of this Councell, wee do therefore conclude that yl said summes of money be placed to Ml. Revingtons proper accompt, untill such tyme as wee have notice of their allowance by our Hon?!? Employers. Subscribed,

MATTHEWE ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Commission given by us the President and Councell of India, Persia, &c, unto our loving ffriend, John Looker, Commander of shipp " Richard and Martha," bound from the Port of Suratt to London in England, dated on Swally Marine, the 20^ January 1660 .

CaptJL John Looker,

Your shipp " Richard and Martha" being now fully laden, according to your advice, and not capable of receiving any more of our Hon!?!? Employers goodes, notwithstanding 90 bales of their wooll lyeth ready for your reception, wee therefore in complyance with your Charter - partye, which wee desire you to observe, give you your dispatch. Requiring you on receipt hereof, winde and tyde permitting, to weigh anchour and sett sayle for the port of yl cittye of London, there to deliver unto our Hon^e Employers, the East India Comp*, all such merchandize &c. as wee have laden aboard yol said shipp, sending our advices with all speed unto our said Employers, unto whome God conduct you in safetye, and wee remayne

Yol very loving Ffriendes,

MATTHEW ANDREWES.

JOHN LAMBTON.

180 SURAT DIARIES.

Commission given by us the President and Councell of India, Persia, &c, unto John Price, Command of shipp " Blackamore," bound by Gods permission from the Port of Suratt in India to the Port of London in England, dated on Swally Marine, the 20* day of January in the yeare of o£ Lord 1660 1*

Loving ffriend CaptL John Price, Your shipp " Blackamore" being now fully laden, according to your advice, and not capable of receiving more of our Hon™5 Employers goodes, notwithstanding 30 bales of cinnamon lyeth ready for your reception, wee therefore in complyance with your Charterpartye (which) wee desire you to observe, give you your dispatch. Requiring you on receipt hereof, winde and tyde permitting, to weigh anchour and sett sayle for the port of the cittye of London, there to deliver unto our Employers the Honl^ East India Compi such merchandizes &c. as wee have laden on board your said shipp, sending our advices with all speed unto our said Employers, unto whome God conduct you in safetye, and wee remaine

Your very loving ffriendes, MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Commission and instructions given by us the Pi and Councell of India, Persia, &c,

unto Ml Robert Tucker, Commander of the Swally Pinnace, to be observed by him in his

voyadge from Swally Hole unto Bundar Larree, the Port of Scindye, and returne hither again e,

dated on Swally Marine, January the 25*, Anno 1660 _

1-

Wee having had experience of your abilitye, do now appoint and confirme you Master of the Swally Pinnace, and that on receipt of this, winde and tyde permitting, that you weigh anchour, sett sayle and direct your course for the speedy obtaining of the Port of Bundar Larree on the coast of Scindye, where, when it shall please God to arrive you safe into the roade, wee desire you to take the first opportunitye to goe over that Barre, and in consideration that the vessell drawes little water, wee make no doubt but it may be very facile, and that you anchour soe neare to the rivers mouth as you can conveniently, sending yoL Purser in yoJL boate upp the river unto the towne with our letter, to be delivered as directed, desiring the Honk!? Comp?5 ffactors there to hasten the unlading of the vessell, w^ wee hope may be done in 3 or 4 dayes. And that 3 or 4 other dayes may be spent in putting on board whatsoever they shall send unto us, which if it be cloth wee desire your speciall care that it be laid soe high from the bilge of the shipp that the bilge-water may not come neare to dammage it.

In 20 dayes wee make no doubt but our ffriends there will have dispatched you, according as wee have advised them, but more then 13 wee require you not to stay, but that you demand yl dispatches and hasten backe to Swally Hole.

In your way thither and backe you must have a greate care in keeping the vessell in a readinesse to defend yol. selves from both Vadellaes and Mallabars, w£>i are very frequent in those partes. In case of mortalitye, which God forbid, wee enorder M_L Domus Jeffry to succeed in command, and that y± shippes Company give observance accordingly, which with wishes for a speedy and safe voyadge periods our desires at this tyme, and subscribe

Your very loving ffriendes, MATH: ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

SUB AT DIARIES. 181

Commission and instructions given by us the PresidiL and Councell of India, Persia, &c, unto Capt* Joseph Blaokman, Command!, of the "Vine," to be observed by him in bii voyadge from Swally Hole to the Port of Gombroone in Persia and returne to Swally Hole againe, dated on board the " Vine " the 21 »' January 16G0 :—

Wee having appointed you Capt* and Command!, of the good shipp the " Vine," do now require you, winde and tyde permitting, uppon the receipt of this, to weigh anchour and sett aayle, directing your course for Gombroone in the Gulph of Persia, using the best of yol endeavE! to attaine the Port so soone as possible, seeing it will be much to the advantadge of our HonbJ* Employers, if by her sayling and your care shee can arrive Lefore the Dutch shipp w£!i departed this roade some fewe days since. In the way take care to keepe the shipp in as good a posture of defence as yA multiplicity of passengers and Lumber will give leave, the latter use civilly, that they may give you a good report, and encouradge them rather to freight our shipping then any other.

At your arrivall in Gombroone Roade, send y?r Purser ashoare with our letter directed unto M! Fforster Esqr. ffactors there residinge, desiring his quicke dispatch in sending boates to unlade you, which wee suppose may be done in three dayes, sending all yoL. goodes unto the Customehouse, seeing that they are all uppon accompi ffreight ; the rest 7 dayes wayte for any freight they shall send from the shoare, that is in all 10 dayes, and not a day more, but make what hast you can from thence unto yl Port of Swally.

In case of mortalitye, w^ God forbid, wee appoint Ml Collard your chief mate to succeed in Command, and require y! shippes Company to give observation unto him accordingly.

Much depends uppon yo! dilligence and care, therefore wee desire you to make use of both, and so wishing you a prosperous voyadge, subscribe

Your assured loving Ffriendes, MATH: ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Commission given by us the President and Councell of India, Persia, &c, unto our loving ffriend Simon Ffreeman, Command! of shipp " Hopewell," to be observed by him in his voyadge unto Bantam, Macassar &c, and backe againe unto Swally Hole, which God prosper, dated the 29^ January on Swally Marine, Anno 1660: —

Having appointed you Command!, of shipp " Hopewell," in confidence of yo!. abilitye, both for navigation and care in government both of men, provisions, and whatsoever belonge unto her, for the better serving our Hon^f Employers, wee shall not give you furthJL direction in those perticulars that you are well versed in, but come unto what wee desire to be acted in this present voyadge, which, with y4 blessing of God uppon you, wee desire you to performe with the most of dilligence.

Uppon the receipt of these, winde and tyde permitting, wee require you to weigh anchour and sett sayle, directing your course for the Port of Bantam, on the island of Java Major, where when arrived, you are to observe the directions of y£. merch1!! that are on board you, viz.*. Ml Richard Bladwell and M! Thomas Coates, both in the unlading of the shipp, and taking in W.L goodes of the Ilon^0 Comp?? as they shall lade, withall to give respect unto the Commis- sioners or Ffactol! of our Hon!* Employers as are residing in Bantam.

Three dayes wee limmitt for your stay in Bantam Rode, fearing that yj* tyme of yeare you are dispeeded from hence is very short, making no doubt but that you will take care, before

B 1255—46

182 SURAT DIARIES.

that be spent, you will have all necessaries supplyed that yJL may want, or spend betwixt this and that Port, but longer wee positively conclude (unlesse accidents happen) you shall not stay. Ffrom thence, by the blessing of God uppon yJL endeav™ , your next port wee enorder to be Macassar, but if winde and curr^? should be contrary, that it be not attainable, then in a consul- tation let it be concluded for the best, that is as wee conceive at this distance to be Camboja,

and if you are putt backe to Bantam, to take the advice of the ffactl? there.

********

Ffrom thence, when you have received yoJL dispatches, make what hast you can to Bantam, and there you are to attend y % dispeed of yol. merch^! on board, reef! which wee desire and enorder you to make the next Port Swally Hole, hoping that it will be in a fitt tyme of the yeare ; but if it should soe happen that you come so tymely away from Bantam, as you fears cominge on uppon the coast, in such case we desire you to putt into Bombay, and from thence to advise us of yoJL voyadge out and thither.

The merchantes that voyadge on the shipp wee allott the greate cabbin for their accomoda- tion, and out of yoX command but that you observe theirs, as is directed you in thepremention- ed lines, and affoard them all decent respect, and provisions of the shipp, as also your boates to sett them on shoare, or to bring them on board, uppon all occasions, as the Honble Compaf businesse shall require.

Two passingers you have also to be accomodated in the greate cabbin, M* South and SnJL Verstegen, whome wee recommend unto yo * courtesye, the former may returne uppon you, therefore desire you to give him accomodation if the merch^ should use the greate cabbin for themselves.

Some poore subjects of the King of Bantam take passadge on the shipp, unto whome affoard civill usage and water.

********

Mallabars going and comming upp the coast you may encounter and also wee enorder surprisall, provided they belong not to the Ports of Callicute nor Cannanore, or have our passes aboard. In case of mortalitye (which God forbid) wee appoint yol: Chief e Mate, Ml Browne, to succeed, and the shippes Companye accordingly to give obedience. Also in the government of yoJL shipp that you encouradge all persons, and prefferre them according to their abilitves in case of mortalitye, the Purser keeping acco I of wages, for as any proceed to office, or higher degree, the wages succeed.

Wee recommend the premises, and desire the best endeavo™ that you can use for the hastening of the gaining of yit porte of Macassar, unto which wee pray God send you a good voyadge, and a safe returne unto

Yo! very loving Ffriendes,

MATH : ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

P.S. — A voyadge to Siam is to be consulted of, by the merch^ both on shoare and on board, and your opinion to be demanded concerning the voyadge from Macassar thither, w?!1 wee desire you to give, taking greate care that your and their conclusion may have reference unto your arrivall here in Octobl. at the furthest. This wee have noted, that you may take care accordingly.

Idem.

M. A. J. L.

SUltAT DIARIES. 183

Commission and instructions given by us the Presidl and Councell of India, Persia, &c, unto our \ovL ffriendes Ml Ric4 Bladwell, and Mr Thomas Coates, voyadging to Bant?, and Macassar, and are to be observed by them, in the mannadgingof the said voyadge, unto to the advantadge of our Hon^ Employers, dated on Swally Marine yl 30th January 1660 : —

The last yeare the " Suratt" ff rigatt voyadging to Bantam and Macassar did at the latter Port leave her whole cargoe, W* was very considerable, especially in y • tyme of famine of moneys, returning backe unto, us with a very small parcell of goodes for our masters acc*_. And since hearing of the Dutches violences used in that Porte have concluded to send the " Hopewell", a newe shipp with a very small cargo, amounting no more then 2000 Mai. nearest, to the same porte againe, both to make sale of what now laded, and fetch off what then left.

Have therefore thought fitt to appoint you, Mi. Bladwell and M? Coates, to take your passadge on this shipp, and have consigned not only the goodes now laden uppon her, but those formerly left, that your experience both of that place and our necessitye here, may with an addition of dilligence procure if possible the disposure of both, unto our masters most ad van - tadge, in the acting of which, and in the progresse of yoJ_ voyadge wee enorder you to observe what followeth.

Ffrom hence sayling to Bantam, at yol arrivall there, deliver a letter unto the chiefs &c. there resident for yl mannadgml of our masters affaires desiring their advice in three thinges and that to be given you in consultation and in writinge. Ffirst concerning the confirm- ing or deserting the ffactory at Macassar, because the Dutch may probably have drove all merchantes from the Port. 21? concerning the disposure of the small cargo now aboard the shipp, whither all or part will vend to most advantage in Bantam or Macassar, and if it be allowed and approoved to land any in Bantam for those marketes, that it be resolved and ascertained the proceed of what sould to be invested and returned uppon the same shipp, in such thinges as is desired in our advices unto them. 3^7 require their advice concerning a voiadge to Siam, if it should soe happen that the last yeares cargo is not sould, nor cannot on your arrivall be disposed of, these with demanding an accol of butter and wheate left last yeares is all that is to be acted in Bantam, w^ wee positively enorder to be done in 3 dayes, no more, that soe you may loose no tyme for yl bett.1 prosecuting and attaining yoi. voyadge and Port of Macassar, which wee hope will be accomplished. But if it should soe happen after you have left Bantam that it cannot be done, after all yol endeavours used, then call a consultation, and therein admitt the Commdl, Mates and Purser, taking advice w^ Port is best both to dispose of the cargo and to secure safe. But at Bantam or any other Port wee forbidd yl. taking out of any person or persons on what pretence soevre, either Chyrurgion, or any other, wee here havil more need and occasion for men then they there.

Att your arrivall at Macassar (which God grante) deliver our letters unto Mj; Turner &c. enquiring after the disposure of last yeares cargo, as also demanding an accol to be rendered unto yl, Ml. Bladwell and Ml. Coates, if it be disposed of, requiring Ml. Coates to keepe a paire of bookes of the sales and bargaines yl. may happen in the voyadge, as also of the expenses, that soe wee may be satisfied of the losse or gaine that may accrewe.

But if it shall so happen that by reason of yl Dutch seizing on a fforce uppon the river and commanding the Port, yl all intercourse and commerce of merely hath beene left off, and consequently the goodes unsold, then wee desire you with M 1 Turner &c. {factors, to con- sult and advise for the better disposure, as quicke dispatch of it, either by way of truck, if attainable there, for any comodityes proper for this markett, w$ you are knowing in, or sale for moneys ; but if neither is attainable, then that you seriously take into your consideration the deserting or maintaining the ffactorye, what probably may be the advantadge or losse of our

184 SUEAT DIARIES.

masters in soe doing, and also what Porte will at present vend the comodityes remaining, and now sent ; whither Siam is a Porte fitt for that purpose, whither it can be attain tymely enough to dispatch the sale of goodes, and returne to Bantam, and arrive here in October ; if not neither at Bantam, Macassar nor Siam, the goodes cannot be vended, trucked, or disposed off to our masters advantage, and the returne made answearable to the vallewe, by the month of October next ensuing ; you are then to bring the goodes away in specie, for wee will not leave them to

be rotted there, but wee hope Macassar may affoard goodes to truck for them, as copper,

turtle shell, &c, or if the voyadge to Siam may be made tymely enough, and it be so concluded on in consultation that Siam is a Porte that may vend the goodes, and the returnes be as rehearsed.

Wee require yol. care in the manadging of that affaire, that you venture not any man, boates crue or your selves, without suretye, nor any goodes before the vallue secured, copper being the comoditye the countrey affoards. Wee hope that quickly and to good advantage the goodes may be disposed of for it.

If that you finde encouradgment and faire honest and secure dealing, you may then conclude of articles for a ffactorye, to be settled next yeare, but give no confidence to their promises or invitations this yeare. And these considerations weigh seriously before you depart from Macassar. Much depends uppon good advice and discretion ; therefore we desire you to be carefull, dilligent, and watchfull in this affaire, the wellfare of the voyadge, as yL. owne reputation depending uppon it.

Copie of the Commanders Commission is delivered you, that you may the better knowe how to behave yo£. selves on board, and nothing to goe in nor out of the shipp without yol. note, therefore we require you to give us accol at returne of all private trade, that the Comp _? may have their owne.

October is the month wee shall expect you backe, therefore endeavol so to mannadge all affaires that you may not f aile by the blessing of God to answeare expectations.

Bring no brimstone nor peppi backe, and little sugar ; other comodityes which you knowe here turne best to aocompt, procure as much as the proceed will give you the opportunitye,

ML South and Sn^. Verstegen wee recommend unto your courtesy e, and have enordered their accomodation in the greate cabbin ; the former wee have lycensed to voyadge to Macassar, the latter to Bantam, where when you returne, if he is desirous to returne take him in, but avoyd all other, as also the trouble of ffuckeers or dervisses that may be putt uppon you by the Kings of Bantam or Macassar.

The adventurers of the M Assada Merch *." have some at Bantam, if our ffriendes

there will lade anything on their arrivall and there be roome, take it in.

Wee have not more to add, then prayers for yo*. health and prosperity, and safe arrivall

unto

Your assured loving Ffriendes,

MATHEWE ANDRE WES,

JOHNLAMBTON,

SURAT DIARIES. 185

Consultation held in Suratt the 9'* F/ebruary 1660.

The President and Councell taking into serious consideration the greate affront and ahuse offered by Matthewe Gray unto the power derived to them from the Hon^ East India Compel and that none may oommitt the like hereafter, have concluded, that whereas the si} Matt h* Gray did on the second day of this present month willfully absent himself from the Comp*f service by departing from Swally Marine to Suratt, on a suspition to be sent second of the ffactorye of Persia, and hath ever since behaved himself proudly and scornefully towards us the said Presidi and Councell, wee therefore for the reasons afords| have discarded him from the place of Secretary, and if he continue refractorye, wee shall also the Comp*f service.

MATH : ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation held in Suratt, the 11'* day of F/ebruary, Anno 1660

1. The President and Councell having on the 9*i day of y_e. prenamed month taken into serious consideration the affront putt uppon them, especially the Presid*, by Matthew Gray Secretary, by his leaving the Marine without knowledg of y* Presidi the second day of this present month in the morning, when he knewe that letters and dispatches were to be written and given to the " America," then fully laden for Persia, by absenting himself from the said place and comming upp to Suratt, three dayes after sending a proud lettl declaring in it his retirement was for no other end but that he would not voyadge to Persia, because he suspected himself concluded to be sent, to act as second there, where one was very much wanting, asserting his owne abilityes, to be more and betti then any in the ffactorye to serve as Secretary here, and for no other reason he would not goe. This his reason he having made publike to all the house, and sett a faire copie of disobedience for them to write after (though at that tyme the Presidi and Councell did not intend him thither), thought at this tyme very convenient to convene yl whole familye, those that were employed as ffactors and merc}ates }n £[ie Honbie cora pas service, where having declared to them jl cause and withall how wee had way ted so longe, as from y* 2d of this present month till this day for his submission, and not observing the Presicfe ordl from the Marine, that he should leave his Chamber, wSJS was not done, but that he did behave himself as proudly and confidently as if he had not abused either y^ Pi and Councell, or denyed the Compa* commands, did therefore call Mi Gray before them, and aske him whither he did acknowledg himself the Comp^ servi, and to be disposed of by them in their service, whose answeare was he was; then uppon consideration that none in the ffactorye was soe fitt to be second of Persia as himselfe, or to succeed in the Agencye : the second question was putt whith £ he would serve the Comp*f in Persia or noe, he knowing the necessitye, his answeare was (I will not goe) ; therefore wee knowing yi example is more apt to encouradge the same practice in others, did conclude and acquaint him that if he would not goe to Persia, where hee knewe his aid and assistance was required, he must not only leave the Companyes service, but their house, that he might not give encouradgment to others soe to act, and consequently every person that was not well pleased with his employ- ment, or that his employment did not correspond with his designes, to answeare I will not accept of it, this being the opinion of yi Pi and Councell and of the whole familye, that for bis disobedience he was to be sent home, and soe this meeting was dissolved.

MATTH: ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

■ 1255—47

186 SUBAT DIARIES.

Commission and instructions given by us the PJL and Councell of India, Persia, &c, unto M! Edward Collard, Command! of the " Suratt " ffrigott to be observed by him in his voyadge from Swally Hole unto Mocha in y! Redd Sea, untill his returne hither againe, dated on Swally Marine the 221 March, Anno 1660 :—

1

The Devine Providence having beene pleased to take out of this world Henry Cyrrill, late Command! of the " Suratt " ffrigott, wee having had experience of your abilityes, have thought good to conferre the command of the said vessell uppon you, not doubting of your care and dilligence, both in the well keeping of her, as endeavouring to answeare expectation in those employmentes you shall be enordered unto, in confidence of which wee shall not much enlarge to circumstantially, but come to acquaint you with our directions. Requiring you uppon receipt of these, winde and tyde permitting, that you weigh anchour and sett sayle, directing yo! course for the speedy attaining of the Port of Mocha in the Redd Sea, where when it shall please God safe to arrive yi, sett on shoare Mil Ralph Lambton and M! Valentine Nurse decently, unto whome wee have delivered our lett! unto M ! Anthony Smith, Chiefe, unto whome, with the prementioned, wee have consigned you that is to lade and unlade the shipp as they shall appoint, and to have the use of yol boates at all tymes in the Hon'ilf Compl8 service sufficiently manned and such respect to be given unto them as ffacte in the Hon^ Comp?? service, by whose dilligence wee hope that all our desires may be accomplished, and they ready to leave the shoare the last of July, or the first of August, two or three dayes more or lesse, whome when you have on board and have received their order, sett sayle out of the Port of Mocha, having passed the Babbes, birth yourself soe conveniently that what Mallabar vessell that shall come after you may not escape you. Wee suppose their usuall way of comming out, or going in, is y! greate Babbes, but wee earnestly desire you to keepe y! particular very private, that by no unseasonable enquirye or discourse the designe may be frustrated, but that by Gods blessing uppon your endeavours it may be fully accomplished and you possessed of all, or the most part, of the Mallabar vessells that may be trading this yeare in the port of Mocha. Unto M! Smith wee have given further directions, unto whome wee referre you, requiring yo! observance of them, that is for the dispose of men and vessells, and in M~ Smiths absence M' Ralph Lambton &c. are to be taken notice of in the qualitye of Mi Smith. Ffor the encouradging yo^ men to doe their dutyes more cheerfully, as also yo! self, wee here assure you that what soever you soe take, one 6^ part shall be justly distributed among yo! shipps CompiL, desiring yo!. care that nothing be imbeezled, but that a strict ace! of all may be taken.

In yoJL voyadge out wee also require you not to lett slipp any opportunitye, but in case you should meete or overtake any Mallabars vessells that belonge not to Callicutt, and hath not our passe, that you endeavour the taking of them, and when possest to take out what goodes you can receive in, setting fire of the rest, both shipp and goodes ; the men putt on the next shoare unto you, but take care they belong not to Callicutt, because of our ffactorye there.

In caee of mortallitye (w<£ God forbidd) Ml. your Mate is to succeed in

command, and the shippes Comp?_f observance is required accordingly. Wee have allotted the greate cabbin wholy for the use of the merch!!? and that you affoard them the accomodation of the shippes provision, giving them all due respect, which wee doubt not of, but subscribe

Your very loving Ffriendes,

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

SURAT DIARIES. 187

Sicalhj Marine, 1^ Aprill 1661.

Protest made by the P.* and Councell of India, Persia, &% against Thomas Richman, Command^ of Shipp "Eagle."

That whereas it pleased the Allmighty God to arrive the shipp "Eagle" in Swally Roade the 19^! day of Ffebruary last past, havi lost her Commander Richard Langford, and divers others of their Mariners, and the most part of the rest of their shippes compa_! being sicke, in the terme of their voyadge, W* occasion! their soe late arrivall, w0^ the present Commandl Thomas Richman &i officers affirmed, for w5* reason wee forbare then to protest, leaving the dispute to be decided by ol Hon^ Imployri at their arrivall in England, making no doubt but the fault will be justly attributed to them that deserve it. In consideration whereof, a freight presenting for Persia (though a very poore one) that shee might not lye idle, wee thought good to make use of it, and being late in the yeare, and the windes hanging crosse, wee enordered y± present Commands to embrace the first opportunitye to gett over the Barre, that he might be in a readinesse to sayle, when he should receive our dispatches, which he did not make use of, though two opportunityes presented to advantadge, viz. the 24* March, and the 29* in the interim of these dayes named, it blewe fiercely contrarye, and on the l!* Aprill present it came faire againe, w^ did and doth constrain us to protest against the said Thomas Richman, the present Command!. &^. Officers, and the whole shippes cornp* for not making use of the opportunityes as enordered, and that all the dammage or dammages that may happen in his say* voyadge to Persia, wee doe hereby declare the said Command!; &« to be the only cause, in delay- ing the tyme to prosecute his sayi voyadge, and likewise that if any danger shall befall the shipp in his returne to the coast of India, wee in the behalf es of the owners of the si? shipp do protest against him the said Command.? &c. for not making use of the said opportunityes in goinge over the Barre, when he might have had our dispatches sooner, had he obeyed order in going ov£. y± Barre.

MATH : ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

P.S. — The aforegoinge, not being as yet delivered, because of yfL shippes then going over the Barre, and no boate attainable to deliver it forbore untill thisMay, and now againe protest against the said Commandl. Thomas Richman, for that he hath not accordiL to ordl. and com- mission, as also promiss, filled the passingers jarres, that causeth a just complaint and conse- quently as the dishonour of our nation, soe the losse in the future to the Hon^? Comp?± by begetting a hatred ; as not freighting the Comp-™ shipping ; hereafter next that his commission being delivered him at 4 of the clocke, or thereaboutes in the afternoone, of the second day of Aprill, he the said Commandl did not sett sayle at the deliverye of this protest ; against him the prementioned for the perticulars rehearsed, and for his disobedience wee say wee solemnlye pro- test against him, and once more mention is, that all dammage that may light on shipp or goodes in this present voyadge, and returne to the coast of India, by his delayes, he is yJL only cause. Wittnesse our handes the 3E$ ApriU 1661 at 11 clocke.

MATH : ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

188 SURAT DIARIES.

Commission and instructions given by us the President and Councell of India, Persia, &4» unto our lovinge friend Capti Thomas Crowther, CommandL of the ffreigott "America," now by Gods permission bound from Swally Hole unto the Porte of Gombroone, and from thence to y_f porte of Bussorah, within the river Euphrates, to be observed by him untill his returne to Swally Hole againe, dated on Swally Marine the 13*^ day of Aprill Anno 1661.

You being now laden with most part of the Hon^l? Comp3* goodes, and compleated with freight, wee desire you on sight hereof, winde and tyde permitting, to weigh anchour and sett sayle, directing your course for Gombroone, there to deliver our letters to our friendes there resident, which wee hope may bee done in one or two dayes at the most ; which done make wl hast possible to obtain the Port of Bussorah, where, when arrived, you are to sett on shoare Ml George Cran- more and Ml Robert Sainthill, decently affording them uppon all occasions that yl Honble Comp?? businesse requires it the use of yof boates well manned, and to observe their order in the unlading of your vessayle, and lading any freight goodes & ° from thence uppon her, as also in their passadge thither the use of the greate Cabbin wholy, and to receive yo£. dispatches from them, which wee enorder to be by the 20*?} of September without faile, M£. Sainthill returning with you on the vessell. In your way touch at Gombroone, there to take in 30 or 40 Tonns of redd earth for yo.f. homeward bound voyadge, as also what freight money presents, staying the acting of this as little tyme as possible it may be dispatched in, the sooner that you returne, yi. tymelyer will be your dispeed hence for England.

In your way both out, and hither, what Junkes or shippes you meete, examine the passes of the former, and take cognizance of the Commissions of jr.* latter ; if you finde any English in yl former not lycensed by us, for reasons rendered the Compos, take them out, and deliver them, their goodes and vessell to the next port you come att, but if they be Junkes of this place, and you finde them putting out of goodes contrary to their Passe in any port that you encounter them, wee enorder you to followe our order mentioned in yiL Passe.

The Mallabars that you may encounter wee desire yl? if possible not to lett escape, but to seize on the vessells, emptye the goodes, and then fire them, setting the men on shoare the next island you can conveniently come att ; for yol soe doing £ part is yours and the shippes Comp^? share.

Wee have not more to add then wished for yoll health, and that out of Gombroone roade you would make what hast possible to Swally Hole unto

Your assured friendes, MATH: ANDREWES, JOHN LAMBTON.

Protest made by us the President and Councell of India, Persia, Arabia, &£-, in behalf of the HonbJ? English East India Compa against Leonard Winning CommandJL or Director, &°, Councell for the affaires of the Nederlandish East India Comp^ residing in Suratt, dated the 19* Aprill 1661.

The 3£^ day of Aprill, in the yeare of our Lord, 1661, ffour Englishmen, viz. Joseph Goodson, John Jones, Robert Hatch, and Edmund Greenleafe, meeting with 5 Dutchmen first at Swally, and some small tyme after at Morah, villages in the countrey of Industan, the dominions of Cromshawe, did there assault the said Dutchmen, only with stickes, as by their owne confession, but the Dutch on the contrary opposed them with swordes drawne, in soe much that basely, malitiously, cowardly and unworthily they murdered 2 of the aforesaid 4 Englishmen. That very houre in which the murder was committed, notice was given to yf Dutch ffactor on Swally Marine, answeare was returned that he would acquaint the Commandore with it, whose answeare wee wayted for some dayes before any thing concerning it would be returned, and then wee were

SURAT DIARIES. 189

visited by severall Dutch merch*?! who only discoursed of this unworthy action, not any wise satisfactory, eithr to justice, the reputation of their owne nation, or in order to y± preservation of a good correspondence betwixt both nations, but endeavoured w.'. tbey could to justify the murderers, when as their guiltinesse appeared sufficiently by the examinations of the 2 surviv- ing Englishmen, delivered them both in English, and in Dutch, they returning us divers attesta- tions of f rivilous circumstances only in Dutch, on purpose to baffle us as appeared by the sequell. Wee still wayting for justice, or some substantia]! reasons why it might not be executed, on the 16*k of the presi month received a letter from the Commandore Leonard Winning, in answE? to a letter the fourth passed day sent by the Presidi to hasten the dispatch of jus- lace, that an acci might be given to oy; Ilonble Employ!? and by their Hon™ to our Royall Soveraigne Charles y4 Second, of the deathes of his Ma**| prementioned 2 subjectes, but instead of answearing our expectations uncivilly taxed us w* hastinesse in our demands, when as the shortnesse of the shippes departure being y± end of the monsoone urged it, and withall that he himself in 2 dayes after would come downe.

The 19*1? of this month the Commandore visiting us, wee delivering him another examina- tion of a Persee, who kept a Punch house, where the murder was committed, contrary to their affirmations ; but that (replyed his second Sign™ Adriaken) was the affirmation of a heathen and seconded by the Command™, owne letter received this day and with many wordes pre- tends to justice, but intending none, spent some tyme, and soe departed, promising to returne a finall answeare the next day by sound of the clocks. About one of the clocks this day Sign!, Adriaken and Signl Hartman, persons of the best qualitys under the Command™, brought a lett1:. from him, directed to the Presidi, and nonsensicall questions, made and putt by t he nisei ves, the answeare being accordingly grounded uppon the examinations given in and taken from the prementioned two Englishmen surviving, but nothing of anythinge putt by them as AdministrtEL of Justice, but defendors of the murderers, putting answeare of wordes into their mouthes by their manner of questioning.

Therefore wee the Presidi and Councell for yi affaires of the Hon^5 English East India Comp_i, trading into India Persia, y5 South Seas, &°, in the name of our Royall Soveraigne and our Hon1^ Imployers doe protest against you Leonard Winning, Commandore or Directore, &-£, Councell for the affaires of yl Nederland8i East India Compa., for, and because of your finall answeare, positively denying us justice, where the murder was committed, willyfying our nation, in preferring the word of a Persee and heathen, before that of two Christians, by sacrificing to justice a Dutchman yi murdered a heathen, and denyeing it us, for the blood of two Englishmen, viz. Joseph Goodson and John Jones, baffling us in the tearmes expressed in your prementioned lettl by the word satisfaction of both nations (an untruth), and sending the murderers for Batavia, and wee (w^ you knowe to be impossible) thither for justice.

Therefore wee conclude this our protest w*J? yt clearing ourselves from the blood of any Dutchman whatsoever that may happen to be spilt, and yi wi. soever dammage or dammages,

i buses or affronts, arise, or proceed for and by reason of yi prementioned cause given.

Wee declare in the presence of God and yiL whole world that neither ourselves or any of our mtion be guilty thereof, wee having done our dutyes to demand and to give reasons why justice night to be executed, you the Commandore and Councell being wholy and solely guilty of all le prementioned dammadges &£. yi may happen, and consequently of the persons murdered > jreach of correspondence between both nations and ourselves for the reasons rehearsed, clear as wee make no doubt but will appeare to all yl world.

MATII^Y ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON. b 1255—48

190 SURAT DIARIES.

This protest was delivered by us as above datA. Thomas Rolt. Ffran. Anderson, Secrete.

An attestation, given on oath by Robert Hatch concern J the death of Joseph Goodson and John Jones, who were murdered by the Dutch at Morah the 31 day Aprill 1661 : —

Being at Jempsyes house in Swally, who sells Punch, on the day and yeare above mentioned, came into our compi^ 5 Dutch persons, among whome was the Dutch Chyrurgion of the shipp " Hendricke Loyis," a leane man, and bald pated, who had a plyster on one of his handes, and another called SignJl Abraham, who was Assistant to Sign I.Rore man on Swally Marine, and 3 persons more whose names I know not. Uppon their comming Joseph Goodson sayi, here comes the Dutch Chyrurgion that affronted meeJast night at Morah, taking my victuals virtually by force from mee, and if it were not for disturbing the other civill persons that accompanyes him, I would now demand satisfaction of him, and the si Chyrurgion replyed he would meete him on Swally Sandes the next day to combate with him. There pass4 fewe more words at Swally, and the afores4 Dutchmen departed unknowne unto us to Morah, and the sayA. Joseph Goodson desired mee the said Robert Hatch, and John Jones, to accompanye Edmund Greenleafe on his way to Suratt, as farre as Morah, where arriving and going into Peeter Mollacker house to drinke a bowle of punch, Joseph Goodson being on the foremost coach, Edmund Greenleafe on y£ second, and Robert Hatch and John Jones on a third, and before the sA Robert Hatch and John Jones, being as neare as the coaches could drive, could gett into the yard the afores^ Chyrurgion and sayA SignZ Abraham, with rapiers drawne, fell uppon the si Joseph Goodson, and soe mortally wounded him that in fewe houres after he dyed, and further the sA Chyrur- gion and Signl Abraham did not cease their furye there, but made severall thrusts with their rapieres at yl aforesA Edmund Greenleafe, Robert Hatch, and John Jones, they only seeking to rescue the say 4 Joseph Goodson, and wounded the sayA John Jones, whereof he dyed in fewe houres after.

Subscribed,

ROB4 HATCH.

That the aforesA Robert Hatch doth attest the truth of yi aforesA premises and every part thereof, on his corporall oath, is witnessed by us whose names are subscribed,

W™ JESSON. ROGER MIDDLETON. ROBERT SAINTIIILL. Swally Marine, 9* Aprill 1661. FFRAN : ANDERSON, Secretary,

Edmund Greenleafes attestation concerning the deathes of Joseph Goodson and John Jones, who were murdered by the Dutch at Morah the 3r& day of Aprill 1661 : —

On the second day of Aprill in the evening, I Edmund Greenleafe, and Joseph Goodson deceas- ed, were at Morah, there came into the house, where we were, Sign L Chyrurgion

of yl Dutch shipp called the "Honrick Luoys" and the skipper of yl. s"*_. shipp. The sayA Chyrurgion offered to take away virtually by force that was prepared for us, and would have drawne his sword against the sA Joseph Goodson deceased, had he not beene hindered by the sA skipper. On the 3CL day of Aprill afores4> Chyrurgion aforesA mett the sA Joseph Goodson deceased againe at Swally, and there the a* Chyrurgion challenged the sA Joseph Goodson to fight with him the next day on Swally Sandes, and soe the sA Chyrurgion and 4

SURAT DIARIES. 191

Dutch more in his company, departed from Swally (unknowne to us) to Morah, where wee noe sooner arrived, being 4 English in company, to witt, Joseph Goodson, John Jones, Rol>ert Hatch, and I Edmund Greenleafe, but the s^. Chyrurgion, and Sign* Abraham, Assistant unto the Dutch Purser on the Marine, stood upp, and the si deceased Joseph Goodson going into the yard, being uppon the first coach, the si. Chyrurgion and si SnI. Abraham fell uppon him with drawne swordes, and I attest that I sawe the forementioned Chyrurgion thrust him into the belly with his rapier, whereof in short tyme after he dyed.

Subscribed, EDMUND GREENLEAFE.

That Edmund Greenleafe doth attest the aforesi premises, and every part thereof on his oath, is wittnessed by us, whose names are subscribed.

W^ JESSON. ROGER MIDDLETON. ROBERT SAINTH1LL. FFRAN: ANDERSON, Secretary. Dated on Swally Marine the 9^ Aprill 1GG1.

An attestation of Muckadam Moncka Persee that keepes a Punch house at Morah, where Joseph Goodson and John Jones were murdered by the Dutch, given on Swally Marine the 17* Aprill 1661:—

Into my house at Morah there came in first some Dutchmen, and about one quarter of an houre after, there came in also some English. The English with stickes stroke the Dutch, but the Dutch did not give backe, and after three or foure blowes there lying a sworde on the cotte, whereon the Dutch satt, they drewe them, and killed 2 Englishmen, and then fleed.

Subscribed, MONKA. That Muckadam Monka doth attest the premises above written, is wittnessed by us,

DROLDAS. CULLIAN. NANNOBY. JEMPSIEX.

A declaration of the Commander & Officers concerning the losse of the shipp "Wellcome. " These are to declare unto the concerned our Hon1?*? Employ!! that the "Wellcome" ffrigott, CaptJL William Hargrave Commander, being safe arrived (but very leakye) of a voyadge from Acheene, in Swally Hole, was there unladen, and being insufficient, through her many knowne and more unknowne defects, to proceed on any voyadge, without a very greate repaire, the under written Commandl , after a serious debate, was enordered by the woryff Mathewe Andrewes, Pi &° Councell, to sett sayle for the rivers mouth, and thence, when the Pilots were on board, to proceed for Ombra, which accordingly he did, with all expedition convenient, the 17'i1 January, and in 5 dayes arrived there, where her docks being made, the day following was hawled in, and found to be trunnell, iron and okum sicke, but most defective in her sterne, w^ was fallen 4 inches from the post, the Marine transame being not only weakned, but utterly rotten, whereuppon carpenters, calkers and such as were necessarye were employed about

192 SURAT DIARIES.

repairing her, for the effecting of wih there was a strake of clamped putt on fore, and aft, well bolted, 2 transams, one uppon the Gunndecke, and 2 in hole, both firmely kneed, and bolted, likewise her sterne made newe from aloft, lOfoote belowe the Gunnroome Porte and uppon that navell hooded downewards 5 strakes, moreover her old keele being eaten away a newe one was putt on, and after shee was calked fore and aft, newe sheathed, and three standards placed in y! forecastle, newe Gunnwailed, 5 timbers shott downe afore and abaft, every gutt-head newe bolted and severall plankes putt in the cookroome, likewise severall other defects supplied as 14 newe ports, 1 newe maine, and topsaile yard, 1 newe pumpe, and after w2^ supposing nothing to be wanting, y.£ 5^ instant, went out of y± Docke, being one day before yf fall, and at y4L Pilots desire, fearing that yl spring might be lost, warped downe against winde and tyde, and yi; 8* at 5 of the clock ground^, as before 3 tymes a little above Roane, shee con- tinuing cracking att the ebb, and when jt. flood came the water had as free passadge into her as without, yiL following ebb shee gave way at y<L wrong heade to windward about 55 foots, and her bilge wholy broke in, whereuppon advice being given to y£ worpil Math^ Andrewes &° Councell, and it was thought convenient by them to come on board, with y.? English Commanders, belonging to the shippes in Swally Hole, and 2 carpenters, who seeing her past recovery, gave order for her to be broken upp, which was accordingly done.

That this is a true relation of the above mentioned sadd accident, wee Command!, and officers belonging to yJL said shipp do an oath and attest, in witnesse whereof wee have sub- scribed the same,

EDWARD MASON. THOMAS FFISH.

GEORGE HEBDIN. GEORGE EVANS.

JOHN HUTCHINSON. W^ TRIMNELL.

THOMAS KINGE. WM LINSEY.

GABRIEL KIRBYE. HUMP : NEATE. Dated at Roane in Suratt River the lllh. Aprill 1661.

Consultation in Surat yL 2Srd July 1661.

Whereas wee are deepely sensible of the intolerable injuries sustained by us from time to time from the Governours of this towne, to the exceeding prejudice of the Hon^5 Comp± affaires and dishonour of our nation, contrary to our Articles of Agreemi & custome of Nations, w^ abuses wee were sensible of in the Government of Mirza Arab the late Governl. who upon our just denyall of his unjust demanndl. back of moneys from our Hon^? Employers (w^ indeed was no other then moneys reci by particular persons in time of open trade for goods duely bought by the Governour of this towne) did lay his commannd on our peons that none should weare their accustomed weapons of defence.

Did violently assault us in the open street, to the endangering of our lives, without any cause given in our peaceable passage to our garden.

Did forceably halt on shoare the Honl^? Comp^i boats & vessailes, when their occations required them.

Did prohibit the P£ to pass to the Marine when the Comp^ occations especially required his presence there.

Did detayne our horses denying us the use of them.

Did disgracefully & unjustly detaine in Custome Howse severall goods belonging to the Hon^ Comp3. contrary to our Articles of Agreem4 & equited amongst merchants.

SURAT DIARIES. 193

All w2^ indignities (after wee had delivered the said Mirza Arab our protest) wee were forced to put up quietly, that there might be no farther impediment to our Masters affaires.

But wee too experimentally find that our patient suffering such injuries hereditary w!£ succeeding Governours : This present Govern^ Musfapha Ckatin, abusing us more violently upon no other accoi then maintaining the privilledges of our Honble Employers, by denying paying. of moneys unjustly demannded, as pretended by the aforesaid Governour Mirza Arab, and refusing to submitt to new Articles, infinitely disadvantageous to the Hon1'!? CompJl hee demannding all goods & merchandizes wee bring to this Port on our shipping to be imediately brought to this Custome Howse.

jst por woh cauge the Honhle CompaJ! goods were 3 monthes detained in the Custome llowse in the tyme of the monsoon : & the P£ detayned 5 dayes here at such time when the monsoon earnestly required the dispatch of the Hon1*,1.6 Comp*f shipping, &

2!y A Mallabarr vessaile which was our lawfull prize, was forced from us by this Governour, &

3'y Did on the 17^ of this month forbid the building of a vessayl wee had begunn for the Company, being encouraged thereunto by the many necessaries saved out of the lost " Welcome " ff rigat, &

4'y Lastly. On the 17th currl did inhumanly, contrary to the law of Nations, confine us to our howse, block upp our gates, surrounded our howses w4.^ armed men, both day & night, and hath to this day detained 42 persons of us, without any manner of sus- tenance.

By which unsufferable injuries, our Nation & Employ _F are dishonoured & damaged, our privilledges & persons indangered, the Hon1*1* Comp?! affaires wholy impeeded. In so much, that being deepely sensible of our present sufferings, and not able to guess at y± future, wee are forced for prevention of further violence, at the Command of the said Governour, to call back our boats w^ wee had sent downe the river to secure them from haling on shore.

For the clearing therfore of our innocencies, wee the P_£ & Councell of India, Persia etc! doe declare that wee have not given the least occation for the aforesaid abuses, having neither acted directly nor indirectly in opposition to a civill deportment in our Masters affaires or repute of our Nation, but have patiently borne the aforesil Affronts so long as wee were able to subsist, rather then submitt to the forceable & unjust demannds of these Governor and loss of the Hon"? Comp^f privilledges contrary to all Articles made w*£ these Governours, as those made with Assaph Ckaun now in force, copie whereof wee sent this Governour, that hee might therby see his owne vile actions.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation in Surat y* 2tfh July 1661.

Whereas there is a dispute between Nabob Mustapha Ckaun Governour of this towne, & us the P L & Councell for affaires of the Hon^ Comp » of Merchants trading to India, Persia, Arabia, etci concerning an accompl depending between the Governl. of this towne and ML Henry Reving- ton about a parcell of gunns sold by said Henry Revington unto Mirza Meena a former Governour of this place, on w£*? account the said Henry Revington did receive 5000 rup4 ready money, and the remainder was to be allowed out of the ace 5; of Customes, most of w£^ was defalkt

b 1255—49

194 SURAT DIARIES.

out of said Customes, w$ by the Nabob is demannded back, & the gunns some to be retourned. But because it concerned us not, but M.L Revington, wee refused repayment of said money. Therfore have been by the said Nabob Mustapha Ckaun confined to our howse, & restrain'd from all manner of sustenance these 5 dayes past, and are now at length forced to conditions w!£ the said Governour, that wee shall have libertie to write to M^ Revington w*. yl said Nabobs demaunds are, and if the said Henry Revington shall not make satisfaction for the same in foure monthes, then doe wee oblidge ourselves to endeavour the content of the si Nabob Mustapha Ckaun Governour. Witness our hands the day & yeare above written.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation in Surat yl 27% July 1661.

According to the tenour of our declaration of the 23rd and Consultation of the 24^ curri , the insufferable abus? wee have both the last yeare and this present rec^are enlarged, and our present difference with this Govl. Mustapha Ckaun related. The said Consultation wee present- ed to the Nabob the 26!^ curr^ (being forced thereunto by y 1 stop of our Masters affaires in every respect and our owne sufferring condition) not doubting but it would have been to his present satisfaction. But it was disdainfully rejected by him, and our Articles of Agreement made with Asaph Ckaun taxed by him as invalide, so y * fearing a further intrenchment on the Hon1^? Comp?£ privilledges should wee withstand his unjust demaunds, and that there might be no further impediment to their affaires, the libertie of sending to, or receiving advices from any ffactory being denyed us, & provissions for our howse, wherin wee have been confind by guards since the 17^" curri.

Wee the Pi and Councell for carrying on of our Hon1^ Employers affaires, having maturely deliberated and discussed the premises, for prevention of further inconveniences to our said Employers, & yl this Govl might have no pretence to deprive us longer of our liberty or obstruct our passage to Swally when our shipping shall arrive, doe conclude, & have accordingly enordered the present satisfaction of his forceable & unjust demaunds.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation in Surat, y!_ 29lh. July 1661.

Having in our passed Consultation of the 27^ currant yielded to the unjust demaunds of this Governour by payment of the money in hopes of libertie & quiet proceedings in our Masters affaires, his promise being, the money paid hee would rest satisfied, wee were this day notwith- standing presented with new demaunds extremely prejudicial! & wholy inconsistent with the well being of our trade.

First. That wee shall bring all goods that come upon our shipping to this Port, & land them first at this Custome Howse, & when Custome paid then to export them, &

2^. That the President shall at no time, either sayl on the river, or goe out of the towne, without license first real from the Governour.

The first of these is to deprive the Company of their greatest privilledge, for most of the goods wee bring to this Port are tran'ship't to other ports, whereas should wee submitt to bring all goods to Surat, wee should be forced to pay Custome for those goods which are not intended

SUR AT DI AMIES. 195

for sale here, hereby should wee he deprived of the benefit of our Marine, and the dispatch of our shipping by want of that means much irapeeded, and many other waies disadvantageous in respect to ffreightfl wee shall make.

The other more neerly concern's the person of the Presidl (yet therein the honour of our Nation) w<* may in respect to a present remedie be submitted unto, provided it might produce a faire conclusion.

But the Pi foreseeing that every day produces new demaunds should hee submitt to these, is not therby assured of his libertie, chooseth rather to endure yl insolencies of these people, & a longer restraint, then submitt to the prejudice of the Company: and in order to our releas- ment, as y« best and safest meanes, hee prescribed to Mf, Lambton this remedy, that they should write to the Commander & Purser of the " Eagle," now supposed in Bombay, to repaire to this rivers mouth so soone as possible, & there to stopp all Jounks coming from Mocho eta? but to take nothing out of them, but their powder & sailes, untill further order.

Ml Lambton would by no meanes consent to such an action desiring forbearance, untill arrival] of the shipps from England, when hee thought a President would come out. The Pi; tould him, that would bee too late, the Mocha Jounks would be come in. Hee replyed, then wee might take the Bussorah Jounks. But the Bussorah Jounks (said the Pi.) are not the Kings, & the injury is reci? from his Governour. Besides hee was this day informed that the merchants of the towne were sending a vessail out to meet their Bussorah Jounks w^ order to leave their estates in Gombroone.

These & many other reasons alledged being no way prevalent w!!1 M' Lambton, the PlL prosecuted his intentions by writing a letter, the tenour as aforesi* w^ was presented M.I Lambton for his firme, & re2il a denyall.

Wherfore I Matth: Andre.wes, Pi for affaires of the Honbl5 East India CompA, doe protest against John Lambton for not using mean's for recovery of the money forci away : for non- complyance with mee in such affaires as concerned the benefitt of our Employers & honour of our Nation. And for all damages shall befall our said Employers by loss of privilledges, Breach of Articles, or other abuses occationed through your dissent from mee in securing the Jounks nowe coming from Mocho.

MATTHEW ANDREWES.

Whereas wee the President & Councell of India, Persia etc* have received Commission from our Employers the Hon^i East India Company, bearing date the 27^ of March 1661, to send some of their ffactors on board each shipp that shall come out of England to take notice & make seizure of all prohibited commodities, to the use of the said Honbi? Company, wee the said PiL & Councell by virtue of their said Commission doe require & empower you Edward Oldfeild to repaire on board the ship " Constantinople MerchJ" now riding in Swally Hole, to performe the order of our said Hon'4e Employers, giving us a daylie acco.* of your proceedings therein, & taking yol. lodging in the said ship until our further order. Dat. in Surat this Q^ day of Sep! 1661. '

Consultation in Surat y£. 3rd Oct! 1661.

The murmerring & uncoward behaviour of some discontented spirritts, occationed by their hopes of a new President coming out, was some monthes past too obvious not to be taken notice

196 -SURAT DIARIES.

of, the President therfore desirous to remove all doubts, that wee might live lovingly, & heartily act our Masters business, assembled all the Compy servants in this Presidency, & did read unto them the Hon!i!? Comp^? confirmation of him in their most eminent employmj of President, requiring all subordinate ffactors to be conformable to such orders as shall from

time to time be commaunded them by their said President and Councell, Having

fully imparted the Hon^f Comp?? commaund, wee demaunded of each man particularly, if hee was willing to submitt to the commaunds of the Pi etc.? Councell as the Hon^ CompI had required. Their answere was generall & to content. The Pi. then proposed to them yl if any man could object against him, why his commaunds as Pi should not be observed & obeyed, that hee should declare his mind. There was no objection made. Wee then exhorting them to love & amity dismissed them : & w^1 Ml Lambton proceeded to Councell, where two things were concluded on.

M* Richi Cradock was some tyme since wrote for downe from Ahmadavad, a supply for Persia (by the decease of M L Matth : Ff orster) being wanting ; but being destitute at present of shipping for his passage, a lettl was dispeeded toward him the 19^ of SeptfT to demurr his Journey untill further order, w^1 lettl came not to his reception untill hee had proceeded some way on his journey : being now here, & shipping not yet arrived nor designed for Persia some considerable tyme, his assistance at Ahmadavad will be more then ordinary usefull to the Compf at this season, & the expence for his journey being small, wee have thought necessary to retourne him to his former employml untill our further order for his coming downe.

The next thing considered was the complaint of Ml Johnson (addressed hither in his lettl of the 20*1? August) for want of assistance in Metchlepatam. To supply which ffactory wee have appointed Edward Oldfeild & Kendrick Edisbury to journey overland with the first conveniency of Caphila or other company on the way, that they may come the more tymely to his assistance, & this was the conclusion of this Consultation : w^ subscription of

MATH: ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation in Surat yL 251* October 1661.

The season of the yeare now approaching wherein the Persian affaire was further to be considered, & as promised proceeded on, the President conveen'd his Councell, & thereunto called Ml Henry Revington, who latelie arrived here out of Persia, did read unto him the Hon1^! Comp?? Commission concerning the Persian affaire, with severall letters from the Pi etc± Councell in answeare to the said Commission : & then they jointly proceeded & fully debated the said affaire, from whence arose the following considerations :

1st. That whereas our Hon^L6 Employ™ were pleased (in their last yeares lettl) to promise a supply of three shipps this yeare for the prosecution of the aforesaid affaire and on further consideration have sent fourth only one, our want of shipping is first & principally to be considered. No less then eight being requisite for so great an undertaking, of w£k number wee have at present but two, vizi the " Constantinople Merchl" & " Surat" ffrigat : the "American" being required home, and the "Eagle" not capable of staying another yeare in the country through her defects & discontent of her marriners : the " Vine" on a winter voyadge in the South Seas not expected untill May, the " Hopewell" not yet arrived from Maccassar, & the " Wellcome" lost in this river.

SUR AT DIARIES. 197

2'y. The want of necessaries for the shipping. No supplye of salt meat for the men, or accoutrement for the shipps being lure procnreable, nor any Port to friend (when our ihippizig shall lie in the G-ulph) where fresh water may he obtained

Vf. The want of men for the shipping, first of Mariners, many heing deceased, particularly of the " Eagles" Company & of those sent out by our HonUe Employers for the better accomplishing this affaire. 21? of Ffactors, of w^ here are hut few, & fewer of eminency, & such this affaire doth require, at least two on each ship]..

4'y. The small burthen of our shipping, wSj1 cannot containe i part of the goodes those Jounks carry, wSl1 must be taken out to find the goodes of the subject of the King of Persia.

5'y. The power of the Dutch is too great to be overruled by our small force, the number of their shipping in Persia the two passed yeares assures us they are acquainted w^ our designe & await an opportunity to affront us.

61?. The danger of our Employers Estate remayning in Persia undisposed off, to the amo_*

of ster. as wee were lately advised by the Agent at the Fort, wc* upon approach

of our shipping will certainly be seized on.

7'y. The danger of those persons shall remaine here while the designers acting. For wee cannot block up the Persian Gulph, but this King will be sensible of the injury done to his Port ; & if wee have lately reef* so great injuries from these people without offence given, what may wee expect when they have a pretended cause.

Lastly. The want of a place or harbour for security of our shipping to winter in at our retourne from Persia, w$ at soonest will be the latter end of May & then this coast will be too dangerous to adventure on.

From all wSl? considerations there was this conclusion gathered (each person first declaring his readiness to undertake the designe had they but so many shipps as were nominated in the Commission, viz^ six) that a force being wanting to goe through the works w*£ honour & repute to their Nation, provission of goods should be ordered for the lading home the Charter- parties shipps, & this Persian affaire referred to our Masters furthl consideration for a larger supply of shipping & men.

The former business being determined the Preside propounded the Comp»a Commission for the taking of Danda Rajapore Castle, but there was the same want of men & shipping objected. The Pi also having a Commission directed to Pi Wyche, w^1 was not to be opened untill the Persian action was finished (& yet remaines sealed) supposing the same may give further instructions concerning Danda Rajapore, that affaire lies dormant untill a greater force awake it.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation in Svrat yl .... November 1661.

A vessayl of Chouts employed downe this coast on a perticuler accompt but intentionally on the Companyes did in her retourne hither surprize a Mallabarr vessayl laden wld' dates etc» belonging to Bassalore, upon which occation the Pi asked the advice of his Councell, whether the prize being taken by a Bannian vessayl that was empowered by a perticuler Commission and had been serviceable to the Company in bringing off their ffactors from Callicut, and their b 1255—50

198 SURAT DIARIES.

Arrack from Goa, might not be appropriated to the benefitt of the said Bannian. Their answeare was in the negative. That the prize ought to be the Companyes, they having been sufferrers by the Mallabarrs, for which reason Commissions were issued out for their surprisall. To which the Pi assented. But in consideration yl the said vessayl had done the Company service, it was concluded that a reasonable allowance should be given to the owner of the vessayl, which should be further considered of by the subscribers.

MATTH: ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation on Sivally Marine t/i 27* February 1661

2.

Severall Articles being exhibited by John Widdrington, Benjamin Clopton & John Atkins against Ml Henry Gary their Chief in Acheen, wherby si Henry Gary appeared so criminall y * wee thought him uncapable to be further employed in the Hon'ilf Companyes service, unless hee could vindicate himself. Wee therfore (sA H. Gary being here arriv'd) required our Secretary to p.use si Widdrington etc± Payees, and draw out yl. heads of his charge, & yesterday sent them to Ml Gary, requiring his answere thereunto, w<£ hee this day presented unto us in writing : w2^ yet not being fully satisfactory, wee summon'd his appearance before us, & examined him on each Article of his said charge, who gave us ample & satisfactory reply es, making his innocency appeared the more plaine unto us by severall bookes of accompts, attesta- tions and other papers w£^ he brought from Acheen.

But in regard that yl said John Widdrington etcl have so publikely charged him w!^ crimes of so high a nature, wee have thought that when they shall here arrive they may bring further proofes of their charge, for it cannot enter into us that their mallice or impudence should swell to the accumulating so many aspersions, even to the ruine of a person of his quality ; wee doe therfore leave the conclusion of this business untill their arrivall, in the meane tyme appointing Ml Gary to the management of the HonbJ5 Comp** affaires in degree to his quality.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Commission and instructions given by us the President & Councell of India, Persia, etc. unto our loving friende Ml Richard Cradock proceeding as Agent in the negotiating of the Hon^£ Comp*? Affaires in Persia, & are to be observed by him there. Dated on Swally Marine yi. 3i day of March Anno Domini 166L

2

Wee being sufficiently experienced of yol abilities in yl dispatch of our Masters affaires in those employing you have been put upon, have now concluded & appointed you Agent in Persia, death having deprived us of those ffriends wee sent thither yl last yeare ; wee also ordered M* George Cranmer your second & to keepe the accomp*?, yourself having constant inspection into them, that there may be no mistake nor delayes as the former yeares have produced, nothing but promises no performances, y*. wee are ignorant of those passages most necessary to be knowne, w^ irregular course wee desire for the future you will prevent to be practiced. This wee here hinted first because of so much concernml, it being 3 yeares almost since wee reci any accompt, though Mi; Fflower, who is at this tyme (wee know nothing to the contrary) there resident & hath but little of our Masters business to hinder y 1 accomplishing

SVRAT DIARIES.

of the rchcrsed, wcJ? is so material ; and though Ml Fflower may expect yi quality of sec'1, yet for this niaine, reason, & some other, wee conferr it on M*. George Cranmer, hee to succeed as third, or leave Persia for Surat.

Wee shall now come to acquaint you \\th what needfull in order to y* answering of our Hon,,le Employers desires and our expectation. The "Hopewell" wee having fall laden w* freight goods, the great Cahin is reserved for your accommodation, therfore desire your repair'- on hoard upon receipt of these, hoping in a months tyme it will please God to arrive you safe to the port of Gomhroon, upon wS& give notice unto Ml Fflower, requiring his repaire a board unto you, informing you how affaires stand, & that hee retourne to informe the Governour, Shaw- bunder etc* officers of the towne of your arrivall, and in wi quality, that as accustomary they may give you a respective reception, wsl1 done their vissitt will follow, their custome being to be punctuall in ceremonies, w£l' by you must be retourne, and will be soone passed over. In y 5. meane tyme you may be unlading the shipp of her freight goods & if a considerable freight for Bengals & Metchlepatam is procurable, to cleane her at Ormuz & send her thither. Wee say a considerable freight, y J; is more yi can be probably procured for Surat, w?j? wee would not have less valued yB 300 Tomaunds, if shee proceeds to those parts, but if shee retourne hither you need not make her cleane, but dispeed her w^1 what ffreight procurable so soone as possible, hope in 10 dayes shee may be dispatched, you must not forget a large proportion of wine & some fruit.

On her wee shall expect a portion of Customes, so much as you can perswade the Shaw- bunder to part with, the practise of the Persian for these many yeares hath been still to cut off as much of the Hon!*! Companyes due as they could perswade our friends there to rest silent with, for w£^ reason and many other not here mentioned, the IIonbJf Company resolved of another course to be taken w^l them, besides faire words, w^1 yet hath not been put in practice, yet they feare wL they deserve, & hope it being civilly urged & the advantage made use of may cause them to comply & beget a more open hand then formerly, so v.* wee shall not expect less then 1000 Tomaunds, though get what you can, 400 or more on this shipp wee desire you to retourne.

Robert Manly wee have now entertayned into wages in y_? Comp*8 service at 6 Tomaunds salary yearly. Hee hath been a constat servant in the howse, & now wee send him to wait on you, hee being not only furnished w^2 language enough yJi. qualifies him for an employment as Interpreter, but experience in treating w*Ji the Ckaun, Shaw-bunder & officers of the towne, enables him to tell you what hath been the practice of your predecessors, besides Ml Fflowers yeares Residence there, will render him to be Master of yl custome of the place, of both wi>1 you may make use, as you shall see occation, desireing you to be as frugall both in presents & howse expences as possible.

So much hath been the villanies & baseness of Tockersee y| long since wee tourned him out of the Hon'i? Comp?? Employing and then sent for him to repaire hether yj hee might have justice done him, as on y!L side also of the HonH1.8 Company ; but those wee employed failed us, & ML! Buckerridg promised to bring him but sickness prevented. Wee sent therfore Cap*. Middleton to force him hether, but if our expectation be not answered & yi you cannot procure his mission so much desired, wee doe by these presents discard him the Companyes service, & forbid him coming into their howse, or any employml in referrence to their affaires, having for the dispatch of w± affaires of theirs of y_L nature as shall present, sent another along with you named Suntockee Vetcneri, having had experience of his abilityes, both here & there also, as good security for his truth, therfore shall recommend him unto you for his encourage- ment.

200 SUB AT DIARIES.

Death hath been so familliar in those parts caused by ill aire staying so long in it in Gombroon, yl to remedy it wee cannot deny you lycense of absenting your self out of it, either to Shiraz or Espahaun, & though in either there will be but little of our Masters affaires to be acted, yet your presence will cause respect unto the Nation, & in the spending of some few monthes in absence from Gombroon, recovery of yol health, w<lll cannot be obtained in yJL place, but as before wee earnestly desire your frugality, yi the Honble Comp? may not complayne of a costly factory.

Much wee must leave unto yo-E discretion, & therfore desire your frequent advices, y* in wl you may be wanting of information may be retourned & supply ed from us, wt1' what our experience can furnish you. Our Masters advices are daylie expected, w2.h wee give you libertie to open, & take copies of, keeping the contents very private, because wee suppose affaires of great consequence will be treated of in them, not fit for the view of all. What is here wanting, wee hope your dilligent endeavours after our Hon!^ Employers benefitt will prompt you to supply, therfore wishing you health & a blessing on your endeavL8, subscribe

Your assured loving Ffriends,

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation on Sically Marine yl 20th March 1661.

~2 Wee having for divers reasons expressed in a former Consultation of the 21?! Ffebruary. laden on board shipp " Truro," such remaynes of goods as were lying by us since yl last shipp •dispeeded for England, did on the ll^i1 currant by Sircinsham Master etc! send on board our advices directed to our Hon\*? Employers, the said person by our order acquainting the Commannder that hee should set sayl, wee having no other dispatch to deliver him : His reply to Charles James was, that without our dispeed the ship should not stirr, shee should ride there untill shee rotted first, & in the same obstinacy doth hee still contynnue w* disrespect to our persons, who are here representatives of the Honklf Company, notwithstanding the President told him at his first arrivall, & often since, that hee would give him no dispatch, saying hee had received them from the Agent from the Ffort (from whence his Charterpartie intended his dispeed & not from us), but hee was constantly silent untill hee had received his lading, & now both his obstancy, disrespect & dispising our orders hath brought us together to redress the abuses hee dayly offers us, & prevent (the best wee can) further damage to our Hon'?!6 Employ!!.

The Charterpartie being seriously perused by us, wee note more especially that clause which oblidges our Hon1^ Employers, in case the ship shall happen to miscarry after her arrivall and discharge at Coromandell, to pay all such demorage as shall be due for the s^ shipp. From whence wee first observe that should wee give her dispatches from hence & shee miscarry in her voyadge home, the owners would require demorage from the tyme of her dispeed hence : Secondly, that although it be expressed, the shipp shall enter into demorage of 7 : 10 p. diem for so long tyme as shee shall be detayned (in India) in yi. service & employing of the Company. Wee observe the scope of India there expressed to have no farther limitts then Coast Coromandell and the South Seas, & consequently none due since her dispatch from the Ffort S4 George, the full purport & intent of Charterpartie, never intending her coming hither ; wherefore wee doe unanimously conclude that no dispatches shall be given the Commaunder by us.

8UHAT DIARIES. 201

The slighting & disputing of the P?. orders, & abuse in dishonouring a person of his quality, in wearing liis (flag in disrespect to the Company, when they bave two shipps of then OWBfi in the road, refusing to strike it although so commannded by the President & when tin- l'r; was on board the Comply shipp his not lowering his Blag, nor saluting him with a gunn, & putting out a peice of a tome ancient, are things not unregarded even by the natives here, and verry much conducing to (lie disrepute of the Company, whome hee represents.

Ffor w^ his perversness, & the rumour yi is spread of the shipps insufficiency, w** was not observable by the surveighs formerly taken, wee doe conclude, if shee depart not this road by the 27th curri, to send him an order to unlade the shipp. In the meane time will take care to see her further surveighed.

MATTHEW ANDREWES.

JOHN LAMBTON.

Ml Robert Tucker, — God Almighty hath so permitted that the towne of Cranganore is taken from our ff riends & allyes the Portugalls by the Dutch, & 200 in 300 prisoners being brought hither & landed by them. Wee both in honour as Christians, to prevent yi calumny of th people, both Moores & Heathens, & oblidged as ffriends by the marriage of their Princess with our Imperial! King, know it our duty to give them safe conduct to the first port w£*} they may arrive to in safetie. Wherefore wee require yoi, wind & tide permitting, to set sayl & set on shoare the persons now on board you at Daman, w0^} having done you are immediately to repaire unto us.

Your loving Ffriends, Swalhj Marine, 27ll of March 1662. MATTHEW ANDREWES.

JOHN LAMBTON. HENRY GARY.

Consultation in Surat yL 20% May 1662.

Wee have to this time attended the arrival! of John Widdrington etc.* from Acheen, upon supposition yl they had a further charge against M.J Henry Gary, or at least would bring proofes for the evidence of their former, but notwithstanding they have been summoned by us to appeare, and two or three conveighances hath happen'd as the " Nugdy " & " Hopewell " from that port, yet they have declynd y£ opportunityes, & the season of the yeare being now past, wee see no reason M* Garyes innocense appearing by his vindication (& much more by their refusall to come hither) why hee should longer lie under a suspition, but rather be preferred according to his abilityes, w^ at this meeting wee have regard unto by conferring on him the place & dignity of one of the Councell of India, &%.

The evill carriage of affaires by Robert Master at Carwarr, first by retourning the " Sea Flower " without a corne of Pepper, when hee did affirme to the P-l that there was enough there to lade her, & that put him upon the designe. But it appeares a truth, and that affirmed by M I Lloyd, that hee had no other designe then to get himself Chief of the ffactory, telling said Lloyd, when hee asked him whie hee told the Pi there was pepper, when hee knew 'twas all sent up the country, what did hee care, so hee could but get thither, whether there was pepper or no.

Kept his remisness in advices, to w^ hee is so punctually enjoyn'd by his Commission, that wee might know how hee proceeds in y± investment, but one letter is all wee have recfL from him these 4 monthes, & that of no concernml. Wee know not at this tyme of the yeare how

b 1255—51

202 SUB AT DIARIES.

to remedy these evills, but at yi shipps arrivall shall take care to supply that ffactory w*5 a better head.

Joseph Himmers having been employed in our Masters affaires on a voyadg to Jehore, gave bond for his faithfull performance against w^l wee having nothing to except, upon Ms request have retourn'd his bond. And there being none of the Comp^ servants to assist the Accountant, wee have made choyce of him as a person well quallified for that employmi & shall consider of a recompence for his paines.

Our Hon™? Employers have by their advices, dat^ yL 2"^ SepJL last, enordered a great quantity of goodes to be provided against the shipps arrivall, some whereof, vizi Deriabands & Mercoles, have not been procurable here these 2 yeares past, nor can they be bought according to their true dimentions here, and a stock to send up the country where they are made hath still been wanting to us, as our present necessity manifests, in such manner yi. wee cannot proceed w^ the provission of goods according our Masters & our owne desires, our Brokers- never assisting us with it, as in former times they constantly furnished the Companyes occations, Chout never procuring since the beginning of this stock, more money then did dis- charge the debt to Mirza Arab the GoverniL, in so much that the President hath constantly accommodated the Companyes occations w^ his owne stock ; & now for conclusion, both bis & our endeavours shall be to procure what money possible in town for the carrying on of our Masters affaires, their Broker Chout pretending bee can get none.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON.

Consultation in Surat yL. 4% of 'June 1662.

In our last Consultation or conclusion was y*. for want of money wee could not comply wth our Masters desires in the provission of goods for the shipps coming out, and that wee would both severally & joyntly press our Broker Chout to its procury : w^ wee have done with all y_S demonstrations yi the urgentie of our Masters affaires require, yet cannot prevaile, & now by loss of severall Jounks going to Bussorah from this port, and retourne of others that have lost their voyage, the towne is in that condition yi no money can be now expected, & the Pi hath already furnished them w^ what estate hee hath in India, so y*. wee cannot in probability see how goods can be provided for the lading home of the shipps.

The desired quantities of Deriabands & Mercoles both this & the last yeare are not attain- able in this towne, and for want of the settlem_L of a ffactory at Agra or Lucknow they cann never be provided according to the dementions & goodness required for the Europe market. In this affaire wee have been more then ordinary serious, ffirst by appointing a Broker to goe up to Agra & settle himself for the provission of those goods against yi time of the shipps arrivall, at which tyme wee promised to remitt moneys to him, but yfL long journey of two months, & want of money when there, gives us little hopes to expect any thence for this yeares shipping, this being the only tyme of the yeare for their procury, & discourages him from going up.

Having waved y_i first, wee next consulted wi£ severall Shereffs for the provission of said goods on Bemah or Ensurance, a way though it be dishonourable to our Employers, & some- thing unprofitable, yet certaine, and the only means left, to be possessed with 'yi. said goods, for the timely impleating the shipps. They promise to invest 100000 Rupi. in Agra, if wee will pay them now ready money in Surat 20000 Rupi., a thing impossible for us to doe at this tyme, as before rehersed, so y4 both these wayes failing us for want of money, wee cannot hope

SURAT DIARIES. 203

that any will be found in this towne before the shipps departure. And although our Masters expectation of such sorts of goods are not answered, yet by tins & the former Consultation tln-y will perceive wee have used our best endeavours as their ffaithfull servants.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON. HENRY GARY.

Consultation in Surat y%. 21**. July 1662.

Attending y£ retourne of an express from Goa y*. might give us advice of the arrivall of y* two shipps, "Royall Welcome" & "Hopewell" from Persia, they being ordered to winter at Goa or some ports thereabouts, & upon notice given us of their arrivall, were to receive further Commission from us for their future employmi. Our express not yet retourned, and tyme of yeare neer approaching for their employ m_., wee considered the captive condition of the Horn*1 Comp?? servants, & loss of our Hony? Employers & their owne estates in Decan, for whome, though wee have used means for their liberty by writing both to Sevage & the King of Deccan, yet have they now been restrayned 17 monthes, & have no hopes of redemption without payment of a great ransome. Wee as members of the same body, being very sensible of their affliction, & injury done to our Employers, doe in justice think it first required from us, to recover their libertie, & our Masters & their estates by force, since all faire means hath already been administered, & prevayl not.

To w£ end wee at this tyme met, & after some consultation concluded the seizure of their vessayles at their retourne from Mocha to be y4 most effectuall means for their libertie, & feazable, because we expect the two shipps aforesi to be on this coast. To the performance thereof wee have now sent two expresses, with Commissions to the Command! of both shipps, to put out of harbour upon receipt of the same (or so soone as the weather will permitt) the " Hopewell " to ply it off Rojapore & Carrapatam; & the "Royall Welcome " to lie before Vingurla, Dabull, & ports adjacent, for surprizall of the "Queen of Deccan" at her retourne from Mocha, being expected to land at the former port, limitting them to the 20^ of September for this employment (w^1 will be no hinderance to their further prosecution of the Cornpanyes affaires)

and then they are to retourne to Carwarr, to off w± pepper & other commodities shall

be there provided for accompt of the Hon1^ Company.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON. HENRY GARY.

Consultation in Surat yjL 81* of July 1662.

It hath been yi. constant practice of the Govern JL of this towne to abuse our Nation, whereof wee have been sensible in a higher degree then any of our predecessor. Our last yeares imprisonment & restraynt from food, the attempt of our deathes with many other sordid abuses, cryes vengance on these infidells. And because our complaynts at home for justice cannot be heard therefore are wee yl scorne of those people, and o_E privilledges and honour trampled under by force in yl absence of oJL shipping. The business hath been dilated in Beverall consultations yt passed yeare, vizi A percell of gunns, sold in open trade by Mr Henry Revington, to Mirza Amena the Governo f of this towne, 5000 rupees paid him ready money, and y 1 remaynder was to be paid him out of the Kings Customes, part thereof hath

204 SJJRAT DIARIES.

been so defaulkt. A succeeding Governor demaunds back the money so paid on acco_* of the gunns (9 whereof were carryed up to Ahmadavad & the other 15 remayning on the Marine), and instead of discharging the remaynder of the debt, would retourne all the gunns on our hands, forcing us the Companyes servants to repay yl money yi was reci by perticular person, for refusall whereof (adjudging it wholy inconsistent wl1? equity) wee sufferred many dayes imprisonment, & other dangers yi last yeare, and for want of sustenance were forced to order our Broker Chout to give a writing for conclusion of y* business, necessity forcing us in this unhandsome manner to submit, and seeking no remedy when it is in our power, prompts them to contynnue their affronts and abuses one upon the neck of another, no sooner is one acted but another hath overtaken it, so yi of our abuses there is no end. The King hearing of O-L abuse, & yl reason, did a few monthes after send downe his Phirmaund to the Govern^ in our behalf, that hee should finish y.£ business w^? us according to equity. Whereupon the Govern!, gave us notice hee would take the gunns, hee accordingly had them tryed, & carryed them away from yl Marine, unjustly abating 5 Hup! on every maund of yl. price they were first sold for, to w<^ wee must submitt ; but now wee came to adjust accompts w*h him, hee ref useth to pay for those 9 gunns y * are at Ahmadavad, and demaunds back moneys y *. have been recJ? on y_? accompt, threatening us this day w*i violence, if wee refuse to pay back f*. money. The President hereupon conveened his Councell, laid open unto them y*. promises, desired their advice how they should proceed in prevention of loss to the Company, damage to themselves, abuses to our Nation. The result was, that had they means there was no order from the Company to use force, more especially since yl_ business was perticularly reflecting only on the Company as a bad preceedent to their future proceedings, they thought rather to winn tyme by f aire proceeding w* the Govern I yi. they might live peaceably untill the shipps arrivall. It was therefore concluded yl Mil Lambton & Ml Gary should vissit the Govern!, & desire him to give a reason why, contrary to his promise & the Kings commaund, hee refused payment for yi .gunns at Ahmadavad, & then if they found him to persist in his willfullness for y % repayment of the money, they were to desire him to defer the conclusion of the business untill such tyme as they had wrote unto the King & received his answere. To the first, hee replyed that hee had lately received the Kings Phirmaund to the contrary. To the next, hee would by no means consent, but would have the money paid back presently. Since nothing y t was just would prevayl #** him, the Pi. retourned M.I Gary to desire him (since wee could neither receive money for yl. gunns, nor have wee the gunns in our possession) that hee would give us a certificate that the gunns were not paid for. Neither would hee submitt to this equity. In so much y & finding wee could bring him to no reason wee subscribed the promises.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON. HENRY GARY,

Consultation in Surat yL 6'b. August 1662.

At the humble request of poore Tulcidas, a ffaithfull and industrious servant of the Honbl? Companyes, the President conveened his Councell, presented them w^* his (indeed) deplorable condition. That having lived many yeares in great repute, abounding w*J^ riches, much respected for his ffaithfull dealing, hee is reduced now (by reason of the great debts oweing unto him by some of our Nation) to so great povertie, his condition so meane, yi. the small proffit hee reaped by his employmi. in the Hony_e Companyes service (w9^ is his whole depend- ance) is not sufficient for the subsistance of his fi'amily.

SURAT DIARIES. 205

Wee being vcrry sensible of the truth hereof, called to memory yi many years since, when hee was in a flourishing condioion, hee had an annuity of 500 Mamodoes allowed liim by the Company, wi^i wee doe now againe revive, not doubting our Masters approbation thereof, since 'tis great charity, and no less then his contynnuall attendance on the Companyes affaires merritts.

Our Broker Chout Pocquer also made it his request, that whereas it hath been a constant custome for the HonM? Company to allow his hone meat, w1' hath for some yeares been omit- ted, yi wee would againe allow y • same, wci wee finding to be a former custome, approved of.

MATTHEW ANDREWES. JOHN LAMBTON. HENRY GARY.

May it please your most Royall Majestie,

Wee the President & Councell, residing in your port of Surat, servants unto the Governour & Company of Merchants of England, trading unto these your Majesties dominions, tender unto yo %. most Royall Maj'i? all due respects & honour, humbly desiring that your Majellf will be pleased to take into your Princely cogitations, that wee having many years resided in these your Majtl(;s dominions to yfL great encrease of traffique & benefit of this yo£. Maj^port, living peaceably & trading according to such articles as have been concluded between yof. M renowned predecessor and our Nation, may by yo! most excellent Maj*!?? especiall commaund enjoy the privelledges of our Commerce, as wee have formerly done, & as wee are given to understand yoL Maj^i? hath by express commaund to your Governour of this port enordered.

Now may it please yo|L Majtie to take knowledge, that some yeares past some of our Nation sold some gunns to a former Govern L of this Port, some whereof were carryed up to yol Maj'iS! citty of Ahmadavad, and so much money as was recfl by our people, on accompt of the said gunns, was commannded by yo£, Maj*j|? Govern!, of this towne, Mustapha Ckaun. to be repaid by us, and the gunns to be retourned us, so many years after sale, to the great loss & prejudice of the Proprietors contrary to equitic & the comerce of merch*?. ; and by reason of our refusal! of a thing so unjust (and wee are assured contrary to your Maj^l3 Royall will) wee suffered many dayes imprisoning, with hinderance of food coming into our howse for our sustenance.

Now, wee having been given to understand that your Maj*i? hearing of the abuses given us by your Governour Mustapha Ckaun (to the great dishonour of our Nation and abuse of our persons) did send your Royall Phirmaund to your said Governour that hee should hon^? conclude this business of the gunns w^ us, giving us our just due according to equitie.

But wee have hitherto found no redress answerable to your Maj*jf* most Royall will, and at this day are wee threatened with violence by yor Maj^!? Governour if wee pay not back moneys for those gunns y % are carried up to Ahmadavad, hee also absolutely denying to give us satisfaction for them, all which proceede from mallice & and envie because wee would not submitt to him.

Wee doe most willingly believe that this hath been acted, not only without your Mai'" knowledge, but also contrary to yo*. Royall will & pleasure, and therefore earnestly entreat that your Majtie will be pleased to impose such strict Commaunds upon yo! Governour & Minis- ters here that wee may receive full satisfaction, both for the gunns here and those at Ahmadavad, b 1255—52

206 SURAT DIARIES.

that wee may trade freely, & that our persons may not be endangered, as they are, at the will of your Govern L, and that a more due and just observance may be had to y* performance of your Maj*Lff Royall Phirmaunds in referrence to this business, wc_i? will be acknowledged for a speciall act of yo-E justice, and eternize your name in the world amoungst the most glorious Princes. So desiring the Almighty to encrease yoi Majlis honour, content & happiness, wee remaine

Yor. MajtJl8 &?• Dated in Surat y^ 2* August 1662. MATTHEW ANDRE WES.

Consultation in Surat y% 18lh August 1662.

The President being this day informed by Chout Locquer, made knowne to his Councel that our present differrence w*!? this Governour was not occationed by any demaunds on accoJL of the guims, but for moneys due for Custome of goods appertaining to perticular men, & entered by Deoldas in the Companyes name. This Councell taking into consideration so great an abuse offered to the Company, and yiL effects thereof dayly appearing in the affronts they receive from this Governour, thought fitt to appeare before the GovL to adjust the accompt of Customes, & make knowne the proceedings of the Broker. In performance whereof it was manifest also yJl the said Deoldas, without our privitie or order, had received from the Gover- nour 2500 rupees on a percell of lead sold by us, giving us no knowledg thereof, ffor w'*L his unwarrantable actions wee delivered him to the justice of the Govern!, to cleare accompts with him, and at present his further censure was suspended by this Councell.

Our Respected ff riend Cap * Thomas Harman,

Wee have after a tedious attendance upon our enemies, got an opportunitie to lade you for England, not without some hazzard both of the shipp & goods, the necessitie of the tyme forcing it upon us, though by Gods Providence & your extraordinary care all hath been pre- served. And it shall be our prayers y.1 yiL like good success may accompany you to your de- signed Port in health & safetie. When wee shall desire you w* our service to present to the Hon^L6 Company the Pacquet herewith delivered you together with the box of bookes & writ- ings, of wc^ wee desire there may be a perticular care taken to preserve them from wett. Wee are cautioned by our Hon^Le Masters to advise you to be carefull y_i in j* terme of your voyage you take heed and avoid the company of all Ffrench shipps as well as Dutch, not knowing but they may be our enemies also : therefore it will concerne you to be exceeding watchf ull, & to stand upon your guard. Mi Nurse hath been a servant to the Company for these 8 yeares and hath now leave to retourne home to his relations. Wee commend him to your civill reception, and yl you afford him accommodation in the great Cabin, according as in Charterpartie it is indented for y •. Companies ffactors. So committing you to the protection of the Almightie, beseeching him to grant you a happie voyage, wee rest

Your very loving Ffriends,

GEO: OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GERALD AUNGIER. Dummas at Surat rivers mouth, &p«j. 10%, 1666. RAND°_ TAYLOR.

SURAT DIARIES. 207

Respected Ffreind Cap fcr Robert Lord,

Your late coming over from Di6 hath much perplext us to thinkc on the great hazzard you were in of being surprised whilst you were lading and otherwise busied in your dispatch. But blessed be God the time is now come that all things are happily finished and you in a readiness to saile. Wherefore wee herewith deliver you our pacquet to our Hon1*1" Masters, together with the tender of our service, desiring you, the winde & tide permitting, to waigh anchor & set saile, shaping your course directly to the port of London, where you are to deliver our aforesaid pacquet and cargo of goods to the Right WorA the Governour, the WoriL the Dep*'?, & the rest of the Committee for affaires of the Hon'i? East India Company. Wee have one thing to advise you as a caution received from our Masters in Commaund. That wee require all Commaunders of their shipps that they touch not at S * Hellena these perrillous times, except by some unusuall acci- dent they shall be forced in through great necessitie, & also that they doe not strive to speake with any shipe at Sea, but endeavour to avoid them, and that by no means you trust the Ffrench, who it is certainly believed will be as open an enemy before you come home, as the Hollander is at present, but more mischeivous : all w*J having for'warnd you of in obedience to order, wee have not further to add, but that the great & good God, who alone is able to preserve, keepe you in safetie out of y 1 hands of your enemies, and be your conduct to your desired port in health and safetie peace, are the heartie prayers of

Your very loving Ffreinds,

GEO: OXINDEN. JOHN GOOD1ER. GERALD AUNGIER. Dummas at Surat rivers mouth yl 25'A Sep± 1666. R-AND : TAYLOR.

Consultation in Surat y±. 30* of Septr. 1666.

Having by Gods good Providence dispatched for England full laden the shipps " Aff rican " the 10^, and the " Saint George " the 25!* of this month, the enemie not appearing upon the coast, wee hope by the Almighties conduct they will arrive in safetie to the Hon^Le Company. This great care being over, wee tooke a calculation of what goods wee have provided for the shipp promised to be sent us out from the HonM? Company, & 4daylie expected by us ; and finding wee have remayning a compleat cargo for her to y% amount of as much Tunnageas our Masters promise to send us ; for y « procury whereof we have runn them in debt for moneys taken up at interest. Wee tooke it into consideration, and concluded for the aforesaid reasons to put a stopp to our investments in all places untill wee shall receive orders from the Company to make a further provission of goods : except some druggs, which are here at this time to be procured & not at any other season of the yeare.

GEO: OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GERALD AUNGIER. RAND° TAYLOR.

Consultation in Surat y«. 15* of October 1666.

The ill disposition of the Companyes affaires in their ffactories of Callicut & Carwarr occationed in the one by our enemies the Dutch, in y£. other by the intestine broils & commo- tions of the Deccannees, arriving our knowledg the 13lJi instant by advices from Callicut dated

208 SURAT DIARIES.

the 23i of June, & from Hubely dated yl_ 52? of y° passed 'month, wee met together to consult and advise for y % safetie & securitie of our masters Estates and their servants in those ffactoryes. And for as much as wee have had divers complaints from Carwarr that Rustum Jemah the Chief Lord of that Port, a most perfidious person, or his sonns & servants Govern- ours of the towne by him substituted, have frequently been at them for loans of money, & in such a commaunding stile, that they feared upon deniall the Companyes estate would be forced from them : for the securitie of w^1 they left the port & retired into the country to Hubely, a towne out of said Rustum Jemahs jurisdiction ; where also they remaine not secure by reason of the troubles in those parts. And now Sevage is got lose againe & abroad w*£ an army of 5000 horse, there are greater dangers to be expected. Wherefore considering how great a stock they have, all in reedie moneys that hathlayen dead these two yeares, neer 5000 Rupees, when wee are neces- sitated to take up moneys at interest, the great danger it is in, the inconsiderable benefitt the Company have reaped from the ffactory, w£^ in some yeares doth vend but a small quantitie of our Europe commodities and at prices very little exceeding w.* wee could sell them for here ; on the other side what commodities have been bought there for our Europe marketts by much dearer then they have elsewhere been procured, these considerations are motives sufficient for the drawing thence the Compel estate and ffactors for the present, and the neerest and securest place for them to retire to is Goa, w<J to effect, in regard they upon the place will be best able to contrive for the securitie of the Comp5? estate, wee have left it to them, either to remitt it by ExcJL to Signi Joan de Prado in Goa, if bills are to be procured, or to accompany it themselves thither, or otherwise as shall seeme in their judgments best, being very cautious yjL the people have no knowledge of their designe and intentions to desert y*. place.

As nerely doth it concerne us to provide for the ffactory at Callicut, where our enemies the Hollanders their nere neighbours have been so prevalent upon the Samorin, that fearing the force of their armes, bee did solemnely oblidge himselfe to send our ffactors out of his country upon the Eng$ ship that they expected there this month, the Governour of the place assuring them y4 if the time prefixt was not complied with by the Samorin, it would occation a generall breach, wEl1 might prove the ruine of their country, w^ they would not hazzard on so slender an account as y_± preservation of two persons (not regarding the Comp^f estate there). The Moores also in yJl towne incense the Governour against them, for yjL the Dutch will give no passes to their vessails so long as our ffactors abide among them. Now if the Samorin (who is lately dead), upon whose invitation and promise not to admitt of the Dutch wee setled there, a Prince reputed potent, was wrought upon to condescend to such dishonourable termes, worse may be expected from his successor, that now is, a man both deafe and dumb, swayed wholy by his Ministers, whome a little money will corrupt to betray even the publique interest of their country ; that wee have cause to feare the loss of the Companyes estate, with the liberties of their servants. "Wherefore wee have in this extremitie cast about projecting all wayes and means possible to bring thence the Compi8 estate, and cannot apprehend any y *. may be under- tooke with securitie, for our enemies border so nere upon them on both hands at Cananore and Cochin, that they have alwaies vessails either great or small riding in y4 very road of Callicut, to see that no pepper or Cashia Lignum be transported thence, nor ophium or cotton brought in, w^ being the only commodities and merchandizes of that coast, the Dutch have appropriated to themselves, denying all others to meddle therewith, even the Natives whose blind ignorance cannot foresee into what tbraldome they are runing by tourning us out of their country and admitting our enemies. Nor can wee perswade the owners of any Jounks belonging to this

port, y± voyage downe, to receive our ..., on freight, if any opportunitie should present

to lade them ; they are so fearefull of the Dutch, who engage them by their passes as strictly as they doe the Mallabarrs that they shall bring no pepper &c » upon forfeiture of shipp and

SURAT DIARIES. 209

goods. So y* finding ourselves at a stand, wee can thinke of no other then dispatching away our advices to the ffactors there to secure the goods the best they can, and to retire up into the country, if they apprehend any danger from the Dutch. Nay further, doe require uj>on an occation so urgent and of such concerne as is this (the loss of the Comp?? estate, of their owne liberties, and the trade of that port which is y_* only place wee have to trust to for pepper), that they goe up to the King and present him with the Rajahs about him, not being over- sparing as the case now stands : acquainting them wee were invited to a trade then by the late Samorin, who declared bee would not , permit t the Dutch to settle, and now to tourne us out and admitt them our enemies was an action not suitable with so great a Prince. But if nothing will prevaile, but according to the promise the late Samorin made to y •. Dutch they wotdd force them to leave the country, then to BOlicite for protection of themselves and the Cornp?8. estate, untill such time as wee could send our shipps to fetch them oft' : and moreover, that the estate w^ their persons may be secured untill such time, and the Samorin made to know with what friends bee parts and what ill neighbours hee is entertaining, together with his predecessoi often solicitations to the President to send those Factors thither. The Presi- dent will write to him and other eminent persons about him w£l? is all yi. can be thought upon concerning this business and concluded at the jouncture of time.

The sending of some diligent and industrious person to Persia was also propounded, to take the charge of the Companyes business there, more especially to secure us these times of warr the Hon'i? Comp^5 land advices, w$ by the neglect of ML Fflower et£ there resident, have frequently been detained from us so long, that wee have for want thereof been a stand with the Companyes business, to the great impediment of their affaires. But by reason that those of the Compel servants, who are capable of such an employment are so few, that they cannot well be spared hence, and the danger they must runn of their persons by reason of our enemies sufficient to deterr any from undertaking it, it was resolved to propound the business to ML. George Davis, an ingenious man, who came out in y4 Comp?5 service as Purser of the "Vine," and being now out of employment, its thought upon conditions of a reasonable sallary hee may accept of it ; which ended this Consultation subscribed by

GEORGE OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GER^ AUNGIER. RAND2. TAYLOR.

Consultation in Surat iji. 20'Jl of October 1666.

The happie newes of the arrival] of the Companyes shipp retourne at Goa on the 24!* of the passed month being made knowne to us by a letter recA yesterday from Cap A. Thomas Stanton her Commander, intimating that it was the Compel order in case hee could not reach this port by the Is! of September, hee should put for Goa and expect our orders. Also yA the Company did expect the ship should be dispatched from these ports sometime in November or yJL beginning of October. But failing to send us the Hon*!!? Compel letters of advice, whereby wee might regulate ourselves, and send him such orders as. wee should derive from their directions, it was speedily requisite that in this straight wee should considt, determine and send such orders as wee finde best suting with this affaire in the securitie of the shipp and stocke from the enemy : and after due debate, finding too great difficulty, hazzard and adven- ture, and no possibilitie either in bringing her cargA from Goa or sending goods thither to relade for her England, by which obstruction should the shipp remaine there the whole yeare, b 1255 — 53

210 SURAT DIARIES.

shee would become unserviceable by the loss of her men, that would be inveigled away by the Portugalls or destroyed by that pestilentious aire. Wherefore being truly informed y£ not any of the enemies shipps have hitherto appeared upon this coast, having in our warehouses a sufficient carg_? for her lading, wee conclude to send our orders to the Cap_L to bring his shipp to this rivers mouth, in case hee shall upon strict inquisition be assured y±. there are no shipps of yJL enemie in Vingurla. And when here arrived wee hope by Gods blessing in a few dayes to dispatch her. And that the Capi may have the most speedie advice of this our result, wee shall dispatch away our sloope tomorrow with our orders recommended to the care of M * Jer. Griffin, late Commander of the "Royall Welcome," whose readiness to serve the Company in so hazzardous a voyage wee must ever remember.

GEO. OXINDEN.

JOHN GOODIER.

GERALD AUNGIER.

RAND ° TAYLOR.

Consultation in Suratyi. 8*. of December 1666.

Si. Gervase Lucas, Knight and Baronet, Governol. of the Island of Bombaim and Com- mander in Chiefe of all His Majesties Fforces in India, having brought out a letter of credit from the Hon!^ East India Company our masters for yi payment of 1500£ to him for His Majesties occations, w°_h letter being accompanied with one from S * Gervase of date y.£ 91^ of the passed month, brought us by M.E Ball who was empowered to receive y*. valew of said summ in Dollors, which money hee expects should be accompanied to Bombaim by some trustie persons appointed by us, declaring the risque to be ours untill y £_ money be safely delivered him. To which wee demured for yi. following reasons. Ffirst, by reason of an error in yJL calculation of the Dollors, w£^ hee computeth thus, the Sevill to bee worth 215 rupees p. 100, the Mexico 213; when by the standard of this place the Sevill be of valew but 214 and the Mexico 211 rupees per 100 Dollors. Secondly, our inabilitie to procure so many dollors in specie, none being permitted to pass yiL Mint without coinage into the currant money of the country rupees. Lastly, our running the adventure of the money to Bombaim, for w££ wee have no order from the Company, and in case of miscarriage the loss may fall upon our owne heads. Wherefore wee made our addresses by letter of yi. 16^} of said month, desiring S_L Gervase to take the aforesaid reasons under consideration, and in respect to the want of doilors to accept of rupees or chequeens, and in case hee shall still impose the adventure on us, yl the moneys may be drawne from us at severall times, yi if a loss happen it may be the less considerable. To w* wee having now by this letter of the 24*^. of the past month received his possitive answere to furnish him with the afores * summ upon our adventure without further dispute by changing yJL specie, or by exchanges as wee should best contrive, wee conclude it requisite to prevent misunderstandings between us, and such ill consequences as may from thence arrise of prejudice to the Company es affaires, to ensure said money unto him on the Comp*! accompt, and to procure what exchanges wee can to Bassein at jl easiest loss, w£*? was the present import of this Consultation.

GEO. OXINDEN.

JOHN GOODIER.

GER. AUNGIER.

RAND £ TAYLOR.

SURAT DIARIES. 211

Consultation in Suraty* 5lJt of Sejitember 1667.

The Councell being conveen'd, the President made knowne that Ml. Henry Gary, the present Governour of Bombaim, had by his letter of the 4iLl of July passed, directed to Ml Gerald Aungier, appointed and ordered him to acquaint the President that hee expected the President should forbeare giving any more passes to these people for the secure navigating their Jounks, but should send all such persons as required them of him downe to y_i said Governour to receive them from him.

Which commaund proceeding from one who had been many yeares a servant to the Com- pany, and knowes full well the prejudice would befall them in the transaction of their affaires here, should wee be deprived of that libertie and freedome, it would seeme the more strange to us did wee not know him a person ill affected to the Companyes interest, and an instigator of Si Gervase Lucas, to make yJ? like demaund by a second hand.

To be deprived of a practice so ancient, as from the first settlement of a trade here, were a great debasement to our repute and creditte, nor without it may wee expect to keepe these people in a good decorum, for y_L hath ever been an awe upon them, engageing them to a civill abearance towards us, and much conduced to the Companyes benefit in y±. recovering and getting in of debts, w£!l would have otherwise proved desperate, and w£^ is not of the least consequence, but to be feared. That should wee now be deprived of this privilledg, the loss of our reputations here may cause this King to nipp in the budd those great immunities and privilledges lately granted us so much to the Companyes benefitt.

These considerations (with many other dependent) brought us to this conclusion. That as the said Governour had laid his commaunds upon us by a second hand, vizi Ml. Gerald Aungier, hee should also receive our answere from him. That wee could by no meanes lay downe so ancient a practise, so much consistent with the Hon^5 Comp!! interrest, which his sacred Majestie was graciously pleased to owne when the shipp "Retourne" came out, when the Company addressing themselves upon advice from us that Ml Humphry Cooke in the time of his Govern- ment did impose upon us to the obstructing their affaires, hee was graciously pleased to retourne them answere by the Right Hon^? the Lord Arlington, Principal Secretary of Estate, that effectuall directions should be given to the respective Governour or Governo™ of Bombaym that they act nothing to the Comp^ prejudice, or contrary to their Charter.

That living under the Government of these people wee could not refuse to give passes to such as demanded them ; and therefore, except it appeare to be our Kings Majesties imme- diate command, or the Company give us their order to yl_ contrary (either of w<* as in duty bound wee shall readily obey and conforme ourselves to), wee cannot lay downe this so ancient a custome and privilledg. And therefore wee doe entreat the Governour to for- beare urging us further in this business untill wee shall receive commands from Europe concerning it, promising in yf_ interim not to constraine these people to take our passes, nor be profuse in giving them untill wee are urgently moved to it, which wee hope hee will finde so reasonable that wee shall have his assent for the present.

GEO. OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GER. AUNGIER. RANDO TAYLOR.

212 SURAT DIARIES.

Consultation in Surat y±. 17*h of January 1667.

Our care hath not been wanting in contriving means to draw off the Companys estate from Callicut, where it lies in so great danger, to be devoured by the Samorin, and so much yJL more by the absence of Mi Smeaton and Ml Barbor from the ffactory, whome wee can by no means perswade to retourne thither for its securitie, and by that also was our contrivance in Aprill last for y_«. bringing it hither upon Mallabar vessails overthrowne, while they remaine at a distance and write us tis possible to be done ; when they never so much as used their endeavours to effect it. A merchant of Callicut this day presenting himselfe to the President, proffered to bring off the said goods in vessails that hee woidd procure there, upon reasonable termes of f rieght in August next, and hee proposed without difficultie, provided the ffactors would deliver him the goods out of the Warehouses :

Which proposition the President discussing with his Councell, was well approved, and it was concluded the safest meanes wee had to secure the Compas estate from falling into yJL hands of the Samorin, or Dutch, and timely possessing us with it here. Wherefore they generally accepted his proffer, and engaged him to put it in execution, sending along w^ him a Bannian to assist in y • business and negotiate betweene him and our ffactors ; to whome wee have wrote possitively to retourne to Callicut, and deliver the goods ©ut of the Warehouses, lading them on board such vessails as yJL said merchant shall produce :

Declaring that if nothing that wee have wrote will prevaile with them to retourne thither, yet if they will send a servant or other person whome they can trust, to deliver the goods out of the warehouses, wee will indemnifie them from any further loss shall happen to yJL goods : but if they shall still contynnue obstinate, and not put in execution these our orders, if any loss befall the said estate, either by seizure of the Samorin or otherwise, wee protest they are the cause thereof, by flying from their ffactory and disobeying our orders.

GEO: OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GER: AUNGIER. RAND : TAYLOR.

Consultation in Surat y± 14lA May 1668.

The happie arrivall of the " Bantam " Pink from the Hon^Le Comp •. at this rivers mouth the 7* instant, as it is a season unusuall and altogether unexpected, so gave us great cause of joy, bringing us the glad tydings of peace, and our Masters advices of the 26^ August and 4511 October 1667, after wee had sat downe some time in a deepe mellancholly for want of their Commands by way of Aleppo, all shiping being returned from Persia this monzone. That had not this vessaile arrived thus seasonably w*£ their orders, wee should have been sadly perplext, and could not have complyed with them in y_L. provission of severall goods by these their advices required for the lading home those shipps they promise to send us to be here in August or Septembi. And although wee have kept a contynnued investment on foot in most places (that wee might as well keepe the weavers to us, as support the creditt of the Company in these late times of warr, when wee have the Ffrench setled here, and competitors with us in our trade as well as the Dutch) yet wee finde it fall short of the tunnage the Company designe us, w£t consideration occationed this Consultation, where it was concluded that if wee doe not now commence our investments for the shipping that shall be sent us in the yeare 1669 wee

SURAT DIARIES. 213

shall not be capable of furnishing the Company with such sortments of clothing as they usually require, nor compleet the tonnage wee may expect from them ; seing the Kfrench have great investmente on foote, and are a great obstruction to us, they buying the same sorts of goods as wee doe. Wherefore wee resolve to enter speedily thereon and give our immediate orders for tliti provission of Chints and Quilts in Ahmadavad for the following yeare (wee having our com- plement ready for the expected shipps) this being the season yi. the cloth is prepared to receive the tincture.

GEORGE OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GERALD AUNGIER. RAND.0 TAYLOR.

The Phirmaan granted by Shaw Orung Zeeb to the Hon'i6 Company, Anno 1667, trans- lated out of Persian : —

Bee it knowne to the GovernoJL, Prefects and Officers of affaires of the Port of Surat, present, and to come, confiding in our Royall favour. That at this present tyme joyned to happiness, certaine notice is come to our eares, that whereas formerly the rate for Customes of goods belonging to the merchants of the Dutch Nation was on everie hundred rupees three and a halfe rupees, and afterwards having an eye to the profitable condition of yfL said people two rupees was only ordered. And whereas the merchants of the English Nation have made their request that yjL rates for the Customes of their goods may be confirmed according to the Dutch constitution and that a Phirmaan may pass from our excellent and noble Court that the goods and merchandizes w* y±. said merchants having brought in Bengala, and in the Royal seat of our kingdome Ecberaband, and other countryes and great cittyes, doe transport by the way of Berhanpore and Ahmadavad, to sell them in yJL Bunder of Surat, may not be stopped by any person in their passage on pretence of taking Rhadaryes, or other dutyes, or on any pro- hibition whatsoever. And in case any of the goods belonging to the aforesaid persons be robb'd in yJL way, that the officers and guards of the said place, doe in the recovery of said goods make all diligent search. And whereas a petition was directed to our exalted throne, upon the sight of a letter w* Ghyas Aldien Khaan, GoverniL of Surat, hath written unto the trusty protectour of our riches ; the repose and glorie of our Kingdome ; the pillar of our Councello™ ; emblems of honour ; the flower of our Princes high in dignity ; the Provident disposer of our kingdomes and estates ; the open way to riches and plentie ; worthy of all grace ; a rewarder of all degrees of men ; a Lord of pitty ; the marke of felicity ; Chancellour of our Kingdomes and sole manager of our affaires Jafer Khaan ; to this effect, that in case any favour be shewed to the English Nation (who are well washers to the riches of our Court, by their services wlj1 they have performed to our benefitt, have so approved themselves formerly and hitherto in an oblidging manner) it will be well deserved by them. And whereas the instant desire of our minds knowne in truth, and the perfection of our heart, established in justice, is expended on the quiet state and universall benefitt of all people, at the agreable petition of the merchants or the English Nation, having forgiven them one rupee of the sumni of three rupees (the accustomary dutyes of their goods), I have now ordered them to pay but two rupees. There- fore from this tyme forward on everie hundred rupees valew of goods belonging to the English Nation two rupees must be taken in the aforesaid Bunder. And the Governours, Captains of guards, Leiftenants of countryes, Guards of Passes, and the Highwayes of the Provinces and Great Cittyes aforesaid, shall not give any molestation or opposition to the b 1255-54

2U SURAT DIARIES.

afores<L merchants on pretence of Rhadaryes, or other demands whatsoever, wcj» are prohibited in Our Court and high Pallace. And in case, in any place, the least part of their goods and merchandize be stolen, that in y t recovery of them all strict search and enquiry be made, and the theives together w^ the goods stolen being apprehended, the goods may be delivered to the owners and the thieves to punishmi. In this affaire let them observe all extraordinary dili- gence towards our Court, and be very circumspect and cautious to abstaine from the breach hereof. Written the 11^? day of Maharum in the tenth yeare of our high Raigne, which is our 26*5 June 1667.

Consultation in Surat yi 14~ July 1668.

This Councell being mett, in order to a preparation and settlement of the Companyes affaires, against the arrivall of their expected shipping, now (by Gods blessing) nere approaching, the President in the first place insisted on y • bringing up the pepper from Callicut, as a thing to be performed by the first opportunitie possible, it tending so much to the dispatch of the shipps for England. To wc^ purpose the shipp " Little Charles," now at Goa, is appointed to yJL service, but for as much as the ffactors Ml Smeaton and Ml Barbor have deserted the ffactory of Callicut, leaving the Companyes estate there as a prey, so y L wee know not (after our many and strict injunctions for their returne thither) whether the shipp may finde them resident there to lade yJL pepper on board : and their misbehaviour to the Natives have rendered them so odious y * wee have been often desired to place others in their home, y^ so the Comp^i busi- ness might not be prejudiced, w$ wee should have long since performed had not yi. warrs hindered, being sufficiently induc'd thereto from the affrontes and indignities passed upon us the President and Councell, in contemning our orders, and writing to us in a stile so scurril- ous and provoking. That as well in this respect as in y_L disposure of the "Charles" her stocke, and the tymely setling of some ffacto^? downe the coast, in such convenient places as shall be thought advantageous to make an early provission of pepper et % before the Ff rench settle, who wee are assured, when their shipps expected in Sept £. arrive, they will settle in places all where that commoditie is procurable, as wee alreadie finde they have their investments of cloth et % in all and singular the ff actoryes and townes where wee are providing to the very great prejudice of our masters, by the high prizing, scarcity, and untrue dimentions of the severall sorts of clothing, in comparison to what conditions wee had brought the weavers before their settlement here. These considerations and the urgency of this business press us to an extraordinary dispatch, and doth require a person of trust and experience in the management of it, and wee have made choice of Ml Rand£_ Taylor, one of our Councell, whose experience by severall voyages downe the coast, and settlement there, renders him most able for this employ- ment, to dispose of the "Charles" her stocke, and settle ffactoryes downe the coast, as hee shall finde it convenient ; and principally bring off the pepper from Callicut, and settle that ffactory, and what else shall be found necessary in our instructions. And for y •. tymely dispatch of the business wee have prevailed with him (who was alwaies prompt to adventure his person when- ever the Companyes occations required) to take his passage on our hoigh for Goa, about y e new moone in August, and there to shipp himselfe upon the "Charles" and prosecute such orders as hee shall receive from us, and to his assistance and for yjL settlement of ffactoryes wee shall send some ffactors to accompany him. These were concluded in this Consultation and subscribed by

GEO. OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GERALD AUNGIER.

8URAT DIARIES. 215

Consultation in Surat yL 31'1 July 16 68.

The President having rec (l severall letters from Governor Gary, more particularly 2 of them of date yiL 3^_ and 11*£ July, concerning the Companyes Generall Affaires, hee conveened his Councell, and caused the said letter to be read. The first, treating wholy about our send- ing downe the first shipp wee shall dispeed for England, to touch at y ° Port of Bombayra, where hee promised shee shall remayne not longer then 12 houres, to receive those advises indispen- sably necessary to be sent His Majestie by the first conveighance, whereby wee shall doe such an eminent peece of service, y *r all our form r cannot parrallel, and will make amends for y.*. sudden and hastie departure of the "Returne" from India without S Jervases advices. These w*!1 many other rhetoricall expressions accumulated and pressed home upon the President, wee having well considered, wee conclude the shipp in her passage home shall wait upon him, if wee have not possitive orders from the Company to y » contrary, or something more then wee can imagine at this distance interveen.

In his next hee makes demand of the 1000*. hee hath advise by the " Charles" that wee are to furnish his Majestie with, out of the Comp?5 cash, for y e supply of his Garrison of Bombaym. To yi. w!* it was concluded answere should be given that wee are readie to pay the money to his orders, in so many Dollors (of % Sevill & \ Mexico) as at 5s- 6 ' p. Dollor shall amount to 1000£ sterS , wsll is according to the Comp^8 order, or if hee please in so many rupees as y_l said Dollors are here worth.

The receipt of some letters by the " Charles" directed to Si. Gervase Lucas and others to himselfe, from the Court, hath so elevated him. Now (hee says) hee sees His Majesties interresse is like to take roote and flourish, that hee cannot be defective in a point so much tending to His Maj!iis honl as not to have his authoritie acknowledged to reside at Bombaym, w!* must no longer be disputed, and hopes it will not be ill resented that hee renewes his demands concerning the passes, w^1 though it hath layen dormant a while, is not deceased : and doubts not but our zeale to His Maj!ii£8 grandeur will encline us to acquiesce therein. Our passes were indeed sommond by him the last yeare, when wee let him know (what before hee well understood) how prejudiciall it would be to the Comp^f affaires here, yet wee would be so observant as not to contradict His Majesties orders, and declared then to relinquish our right to them if hee had His Majesties Commission for it, but untill hee had such, wee entreated him to forbeare troubling us. But hee to shew his owne grandeur, and to lessen our esteeme with these people, not only renewes his demands of the passes from us, but (unknowne to us) hath wrote letters in Persian to the Governour, Shawbund; , and all the merchants in the towne who are owners of Jounks, commanding them to fetch their passes from him, in whome the supreme power resides ; that His Maj*j? intended to make the Port of Bombaym the flourishingst port in India, and that hee is setting out an Armada to scoure the coasts from pirats. These his letters have put the towne in an uproare, and raised such jealousies in the Kings Ministers, that wee have been often sent for by y%. GovernoL and upbraided, that wee who had received such signall favours and immunities from the King, and enjoyed a peaceable and flourishing trade in this his port and other his dominions so many yeares, were now destroying this port to set up one of our owne. Telling us how ill the King would resent this business, wondering very much y\ hee should set out an Armada to scoure their seas, who never desired any such kindness from him. Nor would the Governour believe, but hee was revolted and set up for himselfe ; and those his Armada were pirat's intended to robb the Jounks of the Kings port. But the President did assure him hee had no such intentions, nor could such a thing be. To w^ the Governour hastily retorted what (saith hee) cannot bee? Did you never heare of a sonne who put his ffather in prizon ? Hee was very inquisitive after

216 SUB AT DIARIES.

the seituation of the island, its bigness ; what townes and howses ; how inhabited, but more especially after the fortifications : being tould by the man who brought the letters that they had built a castle, wE? wee would not understand, but palliated the business what might be. And after yl the President had urgently prest him to let the merchants fetch their passes from thence, telling him that hee being the Kings Minister, it would be rather safer for them then if they reel them of us. Hee dismist us for yl time, telling us the business was of no small conse- quence, and would highly incense the King. And not being satisfied with our evading his discourse about their building fortifications, hee sent the Pattamarr that brought his letters w!i! his Broker home to our howse to justifie it.

This past hee summons all the Kings Officers and the merchants of the towne to the Kings Durbarr, where when they had consulted about yl. business, wee were sent for againe. The Govern1! then asking the Preside who Ml. Gary was ? hee told him hee was a person of honour, and the Kings GovernoL. of the island. Then hee askt whether hee were greater yl wee ? the President answered, yea, as himselfe and the Kings Ministers were superiour to the merchants of the towne. Yet some of the merchants knowing him, ceased not set him at naught with much earnestness, declaring they would receive none of his passes, although wee often prest them to it, as a thing that might conduce more to their peaceable navigation, then if they reel ours. But nothing that wee could plead for it would prevaile with them, they telling us that wee in our articles had oblidged to give them passes here, and as wee had contynnued so to doe even to this day, so would they still expect them from us while wee remayne in their port. To w^ the President answered that when those articles were made there was no other interress in these parts but the Comp-™ ; but now there is another of the Kings, w^ ought to have yl greater respect, and to wlj1 wee must submitt. But this swayd not any thing w^ them, but to those articles they would still bind us while wee reside and trade in their country they would goe no further for their passes. The GovernoE.. telling us should they submitt to it, tomorrow the Dutch would send them to Batavia, and the Ffrench to Madagascar for their passes. And if you shall object (said they) that wee send to Goa for the Portugall passes, 'tis because they have none of their people reside in our country for trade, if they did wee would make them give us passes here. To conclude, the Governour first, in behalfe of the King and port, and the Shawbunder for the merchants, gave us this possitive answere. That as they had ever recc4 their passes from us in this port, so would they still demand them, and if wee refused to give them, they would send their vessells to sea without them ; where if in their navigating any Jounk or yL least boat did receive any dis- turbance from any of our nation, they bid us looke to it, for they would have full satisfaction from us. And then the Kings intelligencer required our possitive answere yl hee might write our resolutions up to the King. But foreseeing the danger of the Kings displeasure, and the hazzard of the Compel estate thereby the Presidl desired the GovernL., the intelligencer etl to suspend their resolution of advising the King of this business untill hee had wrote to the Governour of Bombaym, and used his endeavours wtl him, declaring this was newly happened, and without his knowledg, w$ being granted wee tooke our leave. Since they have been enquiring very narrowly after the condition of the island, and the Kings intelligencer sent the President word yl hee must advise the King of their ffortifying, least hee suffer under the Kings displeasure as his predecessour had done for neglecting it.

By all that wee have here collected, 'tis perspicuous that this King and his Ministers have a jealous eye upon His Majesties island and port of Bombaym, and will have farr greater (wee pray God it extend not to yl loss of it, and our trade in his dominions) when he shall come to read those immature unseasonable letters of Governol. Garys sent to His Ministers here, in

SURA T DIARIES. 217

a tyme when the place is not in a condition to be defended against the arme3 of so powerful a King, bordering upon them, from whose country they are stored with all manner of provi- sions. Nor can wee imagine wl future troubles this may bring upon us in our persons, wee must certainly expect great in the Corap*.8 affaires. So that having fully debated this business, wee conclude to send Governor Gary a narrative of these proceedings that hee may see into wL a labyrinth of troubles hee hath involv'dus; endangering the Compel estate and privilledges, and (wee fear) His Maj^S island ; and to entreat him once more not to mollest us and obstruct the course of our trade ; but to deferr his pretences to the passes to a more convenient oppor- tunitie, unless hee have His Mafi?8 possitive order to Command us to lay them downe, to wi* wee shall most humbly submitt, being readie to sufferr all manner of wayes rather then disobey His Majestie. Desiring him to send us that clause w^ warrants him to his demands for our securitie, telling him y*, unless it be expresly commanded from the Court, wee cannot answere it, not having yet received anything to warr*. us to take our orders from him, but the Company grounded upon their Charter.

That wj* caused our further debate was Governor Garys recommending M:_ Hinmers and Mr. Evance to us for their passage home upon their first shipp. The two merchants were employed by ML Andrewes on the shipp " Love," in a designe so destructive to the Companyes interrest that wee wonder how in modestie they can expect it upon the Companyes ships. To this it was concluded answere should be given that wee dare not permitt it without incurring the Com- panyes displeasure, nor will there be accommodation for them in y%. first shipp, by reason that some of the Companyes Ffactors will take their passage on her for England. Yet not to give them a possitive denyall, but referr to our advices expected by the ships, when if wee be not enjoynd the contrary wee shall further advise them.

GEO. OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GERALD AUNGIER. RAND2 TAYLOR.

Commission & Instructions given by us the President and Councell of India, Persia and Arabia, etc* unto our loving friend ML Randolph Taylor, to bee observed in this his present voyadge down this coast upon the Companies Hoigh to Goa. There to embarke on the " Little Charles" and prosecute his voyadge down the coast of Mallabar. Dated in Surratt the 14*^ of August 16G8 : —

Our much esteemed and respective good ffriend ML RandO. Taylor,

You have with that discretion and prudence manadged the severall affaires upon the coast soe much to our satisfaction in the improvements you have made our Hon^? Employers, that it would bee lost tyme to straine for expressions answerable to your merritt ; the present occasion will testify the assurance wee have of yoL abilityes in this streight the Compl have plunged us in by their Commands in their new letters received by the " Bantam " Pinke for the setling the respective ffactoryes on the Coast of Mallabarr etc. now that the breach is made upp twixt our nation and the Hollanders ; for the reviving of trade againe, that they may bee furnished with pepper and other goods; yet have they not sent us any meanes of shipping, or assistance for the effecting thereof: that had it not phased God in his good Providence to cast the "Little Charles" at last upon Goa, after a most tedious and dangerous voyadge, wee should not have knowne what to have done, for it would not have leen possible for us to have complyed with b 1255—55

218 SURAT DIARIES.

their orders with any content to our selfes ; in that it would bring neither honour nor profitt to the Company ; w^ now will bee somewhat solved by this small vessell being designed to it, for wee may not stay to waite the Europe shipping, and if wee should it would not doe the busynesse wee have in hand, in regard such shipps cannot attend settlements w^L will be the worke of time, and the shipps are required to bee returned seasonably, or else they will certeinely endanger their voyadge home, which as it will bring an extraordinary hazard it will otherwise damnify the Comp^ a dead losse of demurradge, if they should be detained beyond the time contracted in Charterparty.

To prevent which and doe the best wee can for our masters in these streights this designe is laid that wee may take tyme by the foretopp ; by yol, knowne skill and experience to effect all our desires with the " Charles," before you returne to us againe, and soe wee shall proceed to acquaint and discusse to you in the following sections our whole affaires upon the Coast.

In the first place wee shall passe by Rojapore and toutch there as wee come backe, in our discourse, and accompany you to Goa, sayling derectly to Marmagon where the " Charles" rideth, and deliver our letter to the Commander M"i. Samuel Smith, wherein we have required him to give you that respect due to your worth and quality ; as alsoe from the time forward to receive his orders from you for his sayling and anchoring to & at such places as you shall appoint him to ; and that hee (deliver) upp the Comp*i cargo of all whatsoever is laden on bord him of goods & moneys; and bee further serviceable to you either in his owne person, boate and men ; and thus having settled you as to this affaire, in the next place after you are decently landed and made your respective visits to the Grandees of the towne let your buisynesse bee to enquire and take an accompt of what hath bin transacted in our masters buisynesse, either by M.L. Clavell or the Captain : and if you cann sell off any of the cloth or other goods for competent profitt, such as wee usually make of them here, you are acquainted with the prices and therefore we shall not limitt you ; but above all wee desire the broad cloth may be disposed of somewhere upon the coast that none of it bee brought to in the marketts. Our reasons you are well acquainted wtj1 of our expectations of large quantityes these September shippes, and therefore if it will not goe off readily there, wee shall propound some- thing else to you before wee close these. For other goods contained in the invoyces which wee herewlj]? deliver you, there is nothing that will speedily sell, neither is it of bulke, and therefore you may take it w^ you ; tis likely the shipp may require it for ballost, the two chests of treasure whereof 2 laden by the Company and one at Plimouth by Mr_ Tillard, as p. y°. bills of lading given you ; which you may cancell as you take out the goods or give receipts for what you receive. This latter chest M^ Clavell and the Cap* have our ord!!. to open, and take out soe much as will defray the ones journey to Metchlepatam, and the others disburce- mh of fresh provisions &c*„ shipp charges ; of which you are to take an accompt of y% Cap! in case Mr. Clavell bee upon the way : w°J? done you will know what quantity of treasure you will have left, to which add whatever moneys you shall make of the broad cloath or what elce you shall sell, if any ; and then enquire of those merch'i and traders downe the coast what sort of coines will sell best at Mangalore, Callicutt, and the trading ports thereabouts, and convert all your cash into them ; or such part as you in your discretion shall thinke good accord- ing to the advice you shall receive, for wee are informed they doe not well understand Ryalls and that they are at a low rate, and not much cared for among them people, and soe having settled your buisynesse at Goa, which wee intreate you to effect wQ all celerity, send backe the Hoigh to us againe with advices of your proceedings, & what is further necessary our knowledge, that wee may reply to it by the shipp wee intend to you his boate dispeeded, hast to

SVRAT DIARIES. 219

shipp yoLselfe and what you have provided for the coast of Mallahar. We would that you toutchedatCarwarr, Onore, Batticolla and Mangalore, or at, soe many of them as you shall find it necessary, or that may have prohahility of advantadge, or advancing tin- d<signe you have in hand of settling one or more ffactoryes for the encrease of I rade, and to secure lardge quantityea of pepper, Dungaees &°», Indian clothing and druggs ; and in this case tin- liroad cloth, lead, sword blade &L will be needfull for commodityes with those whom you thinke fitt to settle in the respective ports, which wee intend shall voyadge with you, nominating them particularly in an after clause, when wee shall say something more of their employments. At these pn 'mentioned places wee would not have you to make any long stay, except you find it to bee absolutely necessary ; but deferre what you cann to bee negotiated (if you approve thereof) to such persons as you may leave there till your returne ; for wee would faine have you at Callicutte soe soone as may bee, for that ffactory lyes gasping as wee conceive by the imprudent manadging thereof by our owne people that have deserted the place, the Companyes goods and ffactory 5 enough to have hazarded our masters whole estate, trade, and all, which much troubles us when we spend some thoughts what ill consequences may follow if this breach bee not timely made upp ; for tis the onely place left us on this coast whereof wee can have any assurance to bee furnished hereafter, and therefore is one maine cause of your soe early being employed in this voyadge that your prudence may moderate and settle that buisynesse and thereby remove our feares. ML Smeaton and ML. Barbor are both at Tannore, a place some tenn leagues distant from Callicut, from whence you very well know wee cann by noe perswasions prevayle with them to remove, and whether they will come neere you is questionable ; therefore at yoL arrivall to Callicutt, advise them of your being there, and loose noe time but visit the GovernoL of the towne, whom wee desire you to treate with all respect, and gett yourselves lodged in the Companyes house, from whence you may send him the present intended him, or carry it with you upon your first goeing ashoare, as you shall bee advised. Wee have not sett anything apart, but referred all to you, that you may enlardge or streighten your hand as occation shall offer, for now you must bee more then ordi- nary liberall to take off the disgust conceived against us. Wee have furnished you with all things that wee can learne is propper or acceptable there with them, besides wee believe you will find some considerable remaynes, if not embezelld, for wee are told ML Smeaton was soe sullen that hee would give nothing, noe not a half penny to save a sheepe ; for had they bin civill they had saved themselves in the prevention of what befell them. There is one Seria Thavra, Banian Broker in the towne, that hath corresponded with us and done the Company some services, if you shall bee confirmed soe much there and that hee is able to bee further use- full, give him the Pamerin that is put among the other presents. Hee is in esteeme with those people. You having thus obliged the severall persons accustomed to bee presented, which wee entreate you to despatch soe soone as convenient, repaire to the Warehouses, where our masters Pepper and Cashia Lignum is lodged, and give order for the clearing it in Customehouse accord- ing to the usuall manner, and shipping it abord, wherein lett all diligence bee used. We have wrote to Errinam Acha the Governour, who is of all that write acknowledged to bee our nations greate friend & upon all occations hath stood for us, and pleaded our cause, yet Ml Smeaton hath found cavells to breake with him to. Our letter is very civill, wherein wee have mentioned your quality and esteeme with us and that all things are referred to you to continue or displace at your discretion ; the like wee have writt to Seria Tharra, mentioning wee have sent thein presents but not what : whilest yott are thus in motion pray omitt not to enquire what pepper

|&a. goods proper for Europe is to bee had in towne & purchase all you can lay your hands on at the best rates you can, in which you must have a care whom you trust, for you very well know they are a beggerly base perfidious people. Our hopes are you will find ML Grigby — —

220 SURAT DIARIES.

Porqua, that hee will bee usefull to you. The Presid* hath prepared him in letters sent by severall conveyhances to get himselfe thither. Him wee have thought of to bee the most able and fittest for that employment, wherefore wee would have you give him reasonable respect that may begett him esteeme amongst them ; & if Mr_ Barbor will stay wee appoint him second ; else you must place some other of the young men that accompany you. As for Ml Smeaton wee account him altogether unfit, & therefore order his bringing away with you in case hee come to Callicutt ; but if hee continue bumurous, as hitherto hee hath bin, the shipp must not goe to fetch him, but you must leave him to find the way upp soe well as hee cann. When you are some few dayes setled and shipped aboard a good part of yoL pepper so that you have removed all obstructions enquire (wee pray you) strictly in the cause & occation of that affront done our people, & if you find it lie on the natives part, show such resentmL as the nature of the fact will allow, & that in the future wee shall beare such indignityes offered our fellow servants, alsoe expresse our dislike of the injury put upon us in forcing the 5000 Ffanams from the Ffactors, and labour to have it deducted out of the Customes of this pepper you are to receive, & presse home that they doe soe no more ; for it is dishonourable for them to exact on merchants that are free in themselves & liable to noe such abuses, especially our nation. Wee compute you will have 18000 Rupees and upwards in cash to pay your Customes; buy what is to bee had & leave a sufficient stocke with those you shall settle there ; onely make some inspection what more may bee purchased, or whether it will bee needful to remitt them more money this yeare ; and give us the timeliest advice you cann. Further, wee are to acquaint you that the President hath wrote effectually to Mr, Grigbie that hee make strict enquiry and inquisition into the affaires and condition of Porcatt, as well what is owing to the Company there by those inhabitants, the probability to recover it, and whether the people bee free to trade with us againe, or soe enslaved by the Dutch that they dare not admitt us, which is what wee feare ; likewise what encouradgement by the quantityes of pepper &«_ that is procur- able there yearly, for wee know it to bee a verry bad port, steepe into the shoare, with a barr some small distance off open to the sea that the waves come in much like that reported on the coast of Cormandell. However, wee say if Ml Grigbie shall give you any good hopes of recovering the debt, and a future trade to bee peaceably enjoyed, wee would have you sail thither, taking Mr- Grigbie with you in regard of his experience and acquaintance with the in. habitants, and settle that place alsoe, making them a promise to send ffactors thither this yeare, if it can bee done conveniently, for at present you know wee are soe bare that wee have not wherewithall to supply our occations, but waite recruite from England. See if it be feizeable & you invite us to it it shall be done ; therefore give them noe firme promise this yeare, but assure them wee will not faile them the next ; and soe parting friendly with them returne to Callicutt, and enquire if any thing hath bin acted in your absence of what you may have enordered. Soe leaving Mr_ Grigbie to governe in Chiefe, to whom &2.a leave such instruc- tions as may oblidge them to all civill and corteeous abearance, seeking all faire meanes to oblidge the Rajahs and other their officers, and indeed wee would have it extended to all among whom they live, observing their Christian dutyes morning and evening, that God may give a blessing to their endeavours ; for if they seeke and implore a blessing from him, hee can and will make the very heathen to bee at peace with them, & prosper them in all their honest labours ; and thus wee thinke wee have left nothing unsaid that may settle those two ffactoryes of Callicut and Porcat in the best manner wee can with those weake instruments and materialls wee have to worke with, of either shipps to attend it, or ffactors to supply each place, yett wee have discharged our duty in complyance with the Companyes orders lately reel, the best wee may.

Wee omitted in due place to advise you that wee have in a former letter to the Com- mand! of the " Charles" recommended to him the providing twelve tuns of Arracke, which is to

SUIiA'I' DIARIES. 221

bee filled into his English caske, butts, or hdds., it is indifferent to us; and Lett liim take noe oare to bee refurnished with cash for his homeward bound voyage, we will sec him Impleated

againe out of the Europe shippes. This Arrack wee believe you will find in a nadinesse at your arriveall to Goa, and if not, pray hasten it to bee laden into the lloigh and scut us, for the shipp to bee dispeeded by the first will greatly want it.

And soe wee shall goe on wdiere wee left off, and conclude you returned to those parts formerly mentioned of Carwarr, Onore, &%. or such of them as you best approve of, where you are to settle ML Gifford and ML. Chambrelan and leave with them such of the broad cloth and moneys, lead and sword blades, as you shall deeme they can employ the yeare throughout, and this wee would have you compute sparingly, untill wee see what reception they will have in the country, and what they will bee able to purchase of those commodities proppcr for the English marketts ; and the yeare following wee will upon their advice furnish them accordingly with a more liberal! hand. Wee would they had a third person joyned with them, but you know how bare wee are, yet if the Company shall send out sufficient for our other occations, wee will send them an assistant. What doth cash you may make, wee have computed, which wee judge you may have cause to leave all at Callicut for defraying the customes of what you may purchase or contract for during the time of your being there, and for stocke to leave with them: that you will have noe moneys left to pay for what you may meete with all other places, of pepper dungarees &=?, and to leave in stocke with the (factors there over and above the goods formerly mentioned, wherefore you may expect from us in specie and goods 70000 Rupees or there abouts by one of the shipps expected. Those places and lower downe have formerly yeilded good quantity of Cardamons and Cowries, the former growing not farr from them and the latter they have in t rade from the Maldivas, whether their vessels were wont to trade yearely, if you could meete with one hundred bales to 200 of Cardamons new, full, & white, at a reasonable rate, buy them ; and 1000 to 2000 maunds this place of Cowries, you may give for these to 4 Rupees the maund, and that is the outside, but if to bee had at 3^ Rup8_ or under buy as many as you can gett.

Dungarees the Company have bin very earnest for, & wee conld not for some yeares procure them any, in regard they are onely made in Deccan, & the transport of that country is onely upon oxen, the bulke of the commoditie will not answer the carriage & way dutyes that is the reason none are brought here, & we remember you gott us a good parcell from Batticolla anno 1G64. Pray try what you can doe for us now and purchase all you can to 1000 Corge, at the cheapest price ; and now that we. are speaking of this one sortment of cloth it hath brought into our minds what wee have learned from such as are acquainted in those places, that neere about Carwarr and Hubely the severall sortments of cloth may bee had, if the people bee encouraged thereunto, as Baftaes, broad and narrow Savaguzzes, and all kind of Necanees and Corutts, double Dungarees with redd heads which the Company hath bin very earnest for, alsoe Tapseels broad and narrow ; of all which we herewith give you samples, with ticketts upon every particular of their lengths & breaths with their nett prices as they cost first penny in the Bazar by the peece, which we would have you leave with ML. Giffard, whom wee appoint to bee cheife of the ffactory at Carwarr (and Casar Chambrelan his second), or where else there about you shall thinke it most convenient and neerest for procuring the severall sorts of cloth- ing. Commend very much to Ml_ Giffard esqr_ in those instructions you shall deliver him on your leaving the place, that hee use all his industry to encouradge the weavers to make those sortments, or as many of them as hee can possible get them to undertake. Wee have chose to give you our best samples, that soe the workmen may make it there first practise to imitate the best ; they will bee apt enough of themselves to debase it, if they bee not looked to. Wee alsoe b 1255—50

B22 SUEAT DIARIES.

expect they will pay somewhat more for them then the prices they have hitherto bought them

at, & indeed soe doe wee ; besides the cloth is abased of its former goodnesse, which there is

noe remedy for in this greate competition with the Ffrench and Dutch, besides the severall

marketts at home and abroad that must bee supplyed. Above all give ML. Giffard EsqL. especiall

order that bee have a greate care of all their dimentions, for that is exceedingly taken notice of

by the Drapers in Europe, and much under valewed if they find them want never soe little of

their lengths and bredths ; likewise to presse the weavers now upon the first entry that they

make all their cloth and stuffe very thicke, and for their encouradgement to give those that doe

something the more. Wee expect too that the making of new loonies will bee chargeable, which

the poore workemen cannot beare, but that the Company must undergoe the greatest share, if

not all, and wee know not well how to direct them, whether to agree with the weavers to pay

them soe much more upon a peece (for that will bee long before it can bee gott off) or that the

Company bee at the charge ; they must doe therein, what shall appeare to bee most to the

CompL. advantadge. One thing more which had allmost slipt our memory, that in case the CompiL

pay for the looms, either in the price of the cloth, or otherwise, the weavers bee all oblidged

under a writing drawne for that purpose that they sell not a peece of cloth to any others, what

nation soever, which wee are jealous will come upon them, when it shall bee knowne what

quantity of cloth is to bee procured; wherefore let the writing bee made firme under all their

hands with whom you deale, and witnessed by able men officers and others.

Wee are now entring into trade and settling ffactoryes on the coast of Mallabar and therfore wee must be cautious how wee assault or damadge them, lest the Compa.servants and their estates bee forced to make satisfaction, yet to let them know the necessity they have to keepe league and amity w!^ us & to awe them to a faire complyance and abearance towards our ffactors. wee would have you endeavour the surprizeall of all Mallabarr vessells as may conveniently fall in your way provided they have not our passe ; but suffer not anything they have to bee embezzeld, in regard they may belong to some townes or places immediately in the Samorins Government ; however secure them, that a true examination may bee made, and if you Ml, Taylor together with them you shall call to Council! bee satisfyed that they belong to such places as are in amity with us to dismisse them, letting them know that if they have received any damadge, the blame lyes upon them in putting to sea without our pass, and that if any shall doe soe for the future they shall bee made lawfull prize ; and this brings into our minds a Mallabarr that went from hence the last yeare, unto whom wee particularly recommended our buisynesse ; if you find at your arrivall to Callicut that bee hath bin serviceable doe him kindnesse, according to his meritt, in giving him a writing to secure him from any ship or vessell of ours hee shall meete with, or suffer any vessell of his to come upp in Company with you, provided hee bee no hinderance.

You have participated with us of the late troubles GovernoL Gary hath brought upon us by his unadvised vaine glorious boastings in his severall letters to the Governour, Shawbunder &™ merchants of this towne, seeking to magnify himselfe by debasing of us (soe much as in him lay) requiring all persons owners of Junks and smaller vessells to receive their passes from him and that hee intends to set out an Armada to scoure the seas betwixt Chaule and Surrat, which wee have greate cause to feare may not onely be destructive, but totally ruine the Comptf trade with the Mallabars, in case any of their trading vessells bee taken ; and therefore wee thinke it but reason tending to selfe preservation that you make knowne to the people thereabouts the prepara- tions in hand and alsoe caution them how they adventure to passe that port in sight of the place. There is our old perfidious enemy that notorious rebell Sevage hath hitherto escaped unpunished for all the villanyes and roberyes done us, which wee had hoped to bee quitt with before this, but

JSURAT DT ARIES. 228

thewarres with the Dutch prevented M untill now, and therefore if you shall hee soe happy as to meet e with any vessells belonging to his ports (which are many lying upon the coast) or that have soiled t hence, use your hest endeavours to seize or destroy them, hy which means wee may not (iiicly h<i]ie to indenineifv ourselves for the losses allready sustained, but alsoe bring him to tearmes for tlie future oi more honest & ffaithfull abearance, and force him to give us some good security for free trade in the country and kingdome of Deccan, which can never bee safe untill something of this nature hee elVcctually done in making them sensible of the necessity of our lTricndshipp, that they may see how unsafe they are without it; therefore this wee account the neerest way to bring him to a treaty, soe that wee earnestly entreate you endeavour the surprizcall of all you can mecte with, and bring them to us, taking care and giving your strict orders that nothing bee purloynd, but that a true and just accompt bee taken of whatever shall bee found in the vessells. There are many that will bee much about this time returning from their several voyadges of Mocha, Aden, Muscat, Persia, and Bussorah, that our hopes are strong you will encounter with some of them.

There are two vessels put into Goa which are come from Siam who wee are informed have the Dutch and other passes, but slighted ours, notwithstanding there were English then in the country ; wherefore fcll Nelthorpe advises it would bee of some credit to them that wee expresse our dislike, & alsoe if it could bee done conveniently to frighten (but not hurt) them into a better esteeme of our people ; therefore if a faire opportunity offer, cast out some threatning words, and wee will backe them when they come hither.

Ffor your assistance, and to settle in the severall ffactoryes accompany you Phillipp Giffard, Casar Chambrclan, John Petitt, and Henry Oxinden, which sweeps away all the helpe wee have, else wee know it but necessary you had double the number. What wee shall doe to keep our registers upp and doe other writing worke wee know not, all our dependance rests upon what shall come forth by the expected shippes ; out of which if wee can spare two, there shal bee one sent to each (factory hereafter.

There will bee sufficient to lade the " Charles" of Pepper and Cashia Lignum, wherefore it wil be needlesse to keepe her there when shee is full, but send her to us, staying yourselfe ashoare untill the Europe shipp shall come to you ; and enorder CapJ. Smith that hee saile into Itojapore Road, and there ride a day and a night, not suffering his boate to goe on shore, or from the shipps side, nor any to come on bord him, and surprize any vessell that shal bee there or chance to come in during the appointed time of her stay, which being expired, to weigh and saile to us with what expedition hee can. The like you may appoint the " Hoigh," as shee comes upp, to ride some houres with her colloli. abroad.

Wee hope this your going downe wil bee greately to the Comp*s_ advantadge in effecting all the buisynesse herein recommended to your care and manadgement ; soe that make a more speedy returne then you were wont upon these voyadges, that the shipp may have an early dispatch hence for England. Wee shall on our partes bee ready to lade soe soone as shee shall arrive, but in case your accustomary stay bee necessary, shee must submitt, for wee have noe shipping of the Compas_ in the country, but then pray doe not keepe her longer upon any consideration. There is an old accompt standing out with Sigl_ Joan di Prado, of a parcell of Trash that was taken a ehoare out of the "Little American," which hee advises is at last sould, pray take his accompt and demand their proceed.

Wee promised you see something more of Rajapore, which is that you reserve a day or two to spend in that road, and put Velge ashoare, giving him his lesson how to carry himselfe in his discourse, soe as that it may not bee suspected that wee seeke them but that hee pretend some buisynesse of his owne, and that by his importunity you may permitte him to land, but carry him noe higher then Jettapore, and thence lett him gett upp the best hee can, and search into

224 SURAT DIARIES.

the inclinations of those people to peace, and if soe what present satisfaction they will give us for past losses and security of better abearance for the future, and if you find the proffer any- thing reasonable, enter into a treaty with them and perswade them to send some person of quality to us to confirme a league, to which give them encouradgement as you shall see cause.

Since its concluded that you send away the "Charles" soe soone as you shall have laden her and that you waite the coming of the Europe shippes, wee suppose you will have a spare time that you may visit the Samorin and the rest of the Grandees, especially the Samorins mother who hath a superlative power and command over all the country : and present them with such things as wee have laid in for that purpose, and what elce of joyes you shall meete that may please them ; for wee are very desirous to bee in their favour in regard our greatest de- pendance for pepper upon all the coast alone lyes in that place. The Rajah of Janore wee heare hath received our people and bin civill to them ; if you have an opportunity acknowledge it, and present him with some small matter : a little goes a greate way amongst them.

Charles Bendish through his desire is alsoe added to you ; hee is industrious, pray place "him in some one of the ff actoryes where you thinke hee may doe the Company best service. Wee doe not call to mind any thing wee have omitted in these our instructions necessary to this your employment : wherefore wee conclude with our very hearty prayers for your health and saf etye, desiring God to give a blessing to your endeavours in the management of these affaires, and in due season a happy returne unto

Your affectionate loving ff reinds,

GEO: OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GER: AUNGIER.

At a Generall Consultation held in Surat the 31_ of Septal. 1668, whereat were present the Right Wor1! Sl_ George Oxinden Knight President, Ml_ John Goodyer, ML_ Gerald Aungier, Cap*- Henry Yong, Mr_ Streinsham Master and Mathew Gray Sec^L.: it was determined as followeth : —

The Shipp "Constantinople Merchl" by Gods blessing arriving two dayes since at the Barr of Swally, the Commander CapL. Ward and Cap*. Henry Young came upp in their boate the last evening presenting the President with the HonbJ? Comp?? advices, among the rest with his Ma^ Royall Charter under the broad seale of England for the taking possession of the Island of Bombay with all and singular the appurtenances and revenues thereunto appertaining; His Majesty having bin gratiously pleased freely to bestow it on the HonbIe East India Comp'L our Masters, who by an instrument under their common seale, have deputed their Pre- sident and Councell, and some other persons therein nominated, or any two or more of them, to receive and possesse the said island &25. for their use. And for as much as of the severall per- sons nominated, there were noe more at present in Surat, then those conveend at this Councell and the urgency of the affaire not admitting any delay, untill the other shipps arrive, least those upon the island hearing of the alteration may embezzle the stores or otherwise injure the Compa_ in their accompts, the President propounded the choice of some persons out of this Councell that should immediately prepare themselves for this urgent affaire, declaring how necessary it was, and with what willingnesse hee would goe himselfe in person. But the Comp^ affaires here are at present soe pressing upon him having lardge advices from the Comp^ and many things to speake to, and a shipp speedily to bee laden for England, that it was not

SURAT DIARIES. 225

possible for him now to leave Snnitt ; wherefore hee propounded Mr John Goodyer, being next in Commission and quality, who hy his intimacy with the Dep .; Uoverno' Gary, and the influence hee hath upon the affections of the other officers, gained in a visitation of that island, will very much conduce to their peaceable surrender and our quiett possession of the place. Hee readily accepted thereof, declaring his willingnesse to serve the Conipn upon all occasions. M'l Aungicr by reason of his employment in the Warehouses, many of which being full of goods, housed by him, which are to hee laden on the first shipp. and now hy the absence of M Goodier receiving into hie charge the accompts, hee cannot possibly bee spared nor Mr Gray, the President having noe other assistance for dispatch of advices to the Comp* , Cap' Young and ML, StreL, Masters being all that remaine of the persons nominated in Commis- sion were joy ncd with ML. Goodier. And Ml Tho: Gates having accepted the Comp^ service and well acquainted with all the officers and 80uldier8 upon the island, and with the customes of the people and priviledges of the place, having inhabited there several] times, him wee have added to the other three and all foure to make a Councell, MrTT. Goodier to reside cheife, and Conveene them upon all occations that shall require Consultation.

It was further determined, for more expedition in the unlading the shipp that shee might bee prepared to receive on hord the aforesaid deputed persons and voyadge with them to Bombay, that the " Constantinople MerchL." should remove from her anchoring at the rivers mouth and jjroceed into Swally Hole to unlade.

GEO : OXINDEN. JOHN GOODIER. GER: AUNGIER. HENRY YOUNG.

Consultation in Siirat, the 7*1 SejJt^. 1GG8.

It being the Hon"! Compi. desire in a clause of their L're of the 27^ March last now received by the "Constantinople Merchi.", that wee contrive the best way for the making Bombay a Port for the exportation and importation of goods and persons to and from Persia, Mocha &c<L, and for the effecting of this that wee employ at present the "Chesnutt" Pinke, andgett some other vessel] to hee there, that merchants may bee encouraged to come thither ; and further that wee advise them what shipping wil bee fitting for the encouraging this affaire, and they will send them us. Wee deliberately considering thereon, doe find many reasons inducing us to build them shipping in this country, where tymber, iron worke, carpenters and many other materialls are very cheape, the building farre more substantiall then in England, and more propper for these partes, in regard they will require noe sheething, nor caulking more then the deckes, & by the industry of these people from what they have learned from our nation, as handsomely built as our English vessells, and yet further for the drawing merchants to the Port, who may hee eneouradged when they see us building shipping their, and for the eneouradgement of the natives in setting them on worke, soe that the money expended will remayne in the island, and the people the better enabled to pay those dutyes and rents annually received from them, and the best timber being procureable neere hand very cheape. These reasons wee doubt not but wil bee satisfactory to the Compa , it tending wholy to the benefitt and encrease of trade in that Port & island ; wherefore wee conclude to sett two shipps upon the stocks at their island

B 1256—57

226 SURAT DIARIES.

of Bombay, one about 200 the other 300 tunns, and to write home to bee sent us by the first shipping standing maste yards, gunns, pitch, tarr, cordage, all other things procureable here.

GEO: OXINDEN. JOHN GOOHIER. GER: AUNGIER. HENRY YOUNG.

(Para. 15.)— The 26* (January) His ExceIlcX- the Embassador w*Jl 4 Field Pieces, 60 old Europeans, India horses, Camells, 2 Coaches, Oxen hackerys, Carts &c, begunn his journey wth _ two Gusbardarrs or Eddys from the Empl_ the Consull waiting upon him near 4 miles from his garden, and wee your Councell w^1 Cap!_ Douglass and CapL. Coulier and others the first dayes journey, and Jeremiah Bonnell y!L 2<J_ day, when left him and retinue chearfull and well, marching in such good order y* need not fear being assaulted by any enemys that may bee purchased to doe him mischeif. A plaine discovery of w?!l His Excell°y_ writes Si_ Nich<L Waite from Kokely the 8* instL 66 cosses from hence, that 4 horsemen sent from hence gott into his camp and though turned away by the Eddys, yett crept againe into their company and upon enquiry were found sent to Orengabad to engage some persons to attack His Excell^I, and att least intercept and cutt off the harcarra. And att Kokely from whence His ExcellS wrote the Consull the Eddys delivered another person bound to yl Gov"L of that Towne taken two dayes before in ye_ Camp, who confessed that hee was imployed as a spy by the old Compi_ and that severall of the Indians in his Lordships service were bribed to fire the powder, or doe any other mischeif they could, w°5 can't doubt but it will evince His Maj!il and yoi_ Honri that our information has not bin wrong of a gen™*1 combination, induced to beleive projected in Europe, tho : the instruments have impolitely managed and executed their instructions to their open shame and prejudice and near Rs. 400000 expence to their masters besides what

to be paid for clearing y™ from their heat and willfull blind zeale has raised more

probably for loss than restoration to their first state of w* in it due place.

(Para 16.) — The charge and defeat of His Exceltel reaching the Mogull on the other side, the great age and infirmity of the EmpL and unaccountable permission for Davenants coming out Embassador as styled in y'L publick prints the latter end of Aprill att London and upon the "Tavi- stocks" arrivall notify ed to this GovL. by Sr_ John Gayer as wrote yol_ Hon™ per French ship required expedition for His Excelll-^ being att Court, wEl? in conjunction w* him and his Councell consulted upon yL safest and properest methods, and after y£_ most collected advices from all intelligent persons for attaining soe desirable an end and were all fully satisfy ed, agreed and resolved that His ExcellP-O retinue should bee strengthened w'A, 20 Europeans or more if procurable, four Field pieces, ammunition small armed &c, and inabled for disposing and giving away of a summe or summs not exceeding Rup8^ 200000 to the EtapL. or other Ministers, besides what presents brought wi*L him from Europe and delivered out of your warehouses here than by a greater expence wasted in a tedious and lingering treaty amongst these corrupt people att this juncture when y!L old CompiL have sent a new procurator wi'J? Rup 1 200000 Cr. for impeading or embarrassing all your Phyrmaunds and the whole negotiation of the embassy and could not bee avoided being soe inabled pursuant to your directions per the "Martha" w^Lout yl_ infalible loss of all your 3 settlements when His ExeellSL was limited not to exceed R'L. 20000, tho : a totall exemption in all India from custome, and in the whole pro- gress of this and other your affaires wee have faithfully and seriously studied your interest with a conscience wee hope voyd of offence towards God and you our Hon1?!? Masters, w-^L encourages

SURAT DIARIES. 827

us to believe y %. you will stand by and approve what wee have done not derogatory from His Maju°! Commission to your directions upon your reading of our advices to His Excell^Z N° 69 wth what else hath occurred relating to the Embassy is not proper and over bulkey for a letter under wch humbly referr you.

(Para. 21.) — Now wee are come to inform yor Hoiir"_ of two orders on Hassbull Huckums signed by Duke Yaralec Beck and Abdull Ramon y°T Great Musty and third from y" Deputy Vizier and two others from the EmpL. himself came to y° Governour yV 5th instant w?^ hee kept private until] bee had seized fife. John Gayer the old Companys GenL. then att Swalley, from whom having received such large summs for supporting their interest and prevent- ing your several! Phyrmaunds w'Jl assurance to receive their Embassador as they called him and bring St. John w'A. him when arrived to Suratt was not suspected to have any designe in breach of this purchased friendship, agreed w"i his sonn who the 8tu ins*! abi. midnight went out of y° gates w**. upward of one hundred men not so secretly but the old Factory had notice from ye_ Secry. their friend and Presid6. Colt advised Sr. John Gayer thereof and reacht his hand att Swalley before morning where the Meer appeared early in his usuall hunting tent and sending notice thereof to Sl John Gayer then in bed immediately arose and invited the Meer w^in the impaileurof y«L lodge, wcJL excusing, SL.John went out towards him, whose men being directed their business, secured S1; John and his Granaders and then entered ye lodge obliged the Lady Gayer out of the bed, carryed her, Mr_ Somaster and others to accompany y«_ Generall to Suratt before yl_ " Tavistocks" people had notice or could come ashoare to their rescue, and being brought over the river in an open boat y*L Lady was putt into a hackery covered w!L a cloath and carryed to the Govern™ ,where w** Si. John and others were confined to one roome and some hours after the Governour sent for Presid'- Colt, who goeing will two of his Councell accompanied S_ John in said prizon, w^l tryumphant act as its esteemed of the Meer was wrote that night to the Empr. to y?_ noe small dishonour of y*_ old Comp*8 Generall of India y:T need not have bin surprized if had thought of y * trust reposed in him and will not now easily bee permitted goeing out of Suratt before y.L whole demands of y' Comp**. is adjusted.

A faithful & impartial account of what relates to this Presidency and on the arrival of H. E. upon the " Somers."

Surat, March the 8%, 1700.

Hon* S'JL Offering this opportunity by an Arabian to Mecca that promises will deliver it to some Pilgrims there for Alleppo, flatter ourselves may bee safer than to Persia for acquainting briefly yor Honra that ye "Canterbury" was dispatcht hence the 2d_ December w^ a cargoe of R^_ 415149-10 and by French convey* to Paris wee answered your severall letters and gave you a faithfull and impartiall accol? of what related to this Presidency and y%. arrivall of his ExcellcJL upon the "Somers" and his landing, and by the "Mountague" y^_sayles within two dayes richly laden you'l then bee more surprized than by the other if your Presidi and Councell may have liberty to desire your perusall of what His ExcelM and wee have wrote and trans- mitted for informing your HonJL of that generall combination noe doubt directed out of Europe to all their serv^? in India for extirpating your Honr? out of this Emp™ dominions as will appeare by copyes of sev.}l_ original letters in the "Mountagues" pacquett obtained by some unto- ward fellows drawing away one Lane, SL John Gayers Secretary, now in service of the Embassa- dor, who was detarded beginning his journey untill the 2G% Jan^l, S_L John Gayer &c. rediculing, disowning and publickly offering yl highest indignity their capacities were capable upon his charecter, pursuing him with that insatiated unchristian heat by ruflins taken in y*L Camp confest upon examination to bee hyred with others in His Excellcy." service to blow up his pow-

228 SURAT DIARIES.

der and destroy his person as the Embassador writes SfL Nicho: Waite the 14**l FefeSE from Kokely, and if that failed are truely informed a ProcuratL followed largely impowered with Cll for embarrassing and delaying if possible his reception as the Embassador of our Great King and not till the Champion Davenant arrives, who they have here notifyed equally authorized and soe not one to bee heard before the other, wS£ foreseeing when they were not apprized of the Embassadors coming to Suratt, such precautions were taken that you may please to depend heT bee hon,).Ly recA and expeditiously obtaine what was intrusted under his conduct and have leizure enough to observe the motions of that gentleman they vallue themselves upon if comes not impowered by the King of England.

S£ John Gayer, his Lady, Guards and others was ignomously seized by this Gov™ sonn att Swalley and the " Tavistock" there to the unexcusable reproach of that Comp-'S Generall yL was shamefully brought to Suratt and still uuder confinement untill the eight millions of Rupees demiL upon y'i bee accommodated or yJL Empri order for their release tho : tliey have payed and secured to bee payed to this GovJL &c. will in this four months upward of 5 Lack rupees and all these impolite actions has embroyled more themselves than your affaires wc2L are clear and free for us to manage as shall seem best for your interest and to palliate their imprudence charge y %. Consull as y£. author thereof who has not concerned himself w^ this Government otherwise as wee know of than w^ us your Councell for securing of your virtuous settlement they boasting of such prevalent interest in England as will remove $L Nicho : Waite in disgrace that has not derogated from His Maje!i£! Commission and your instructions wci recommend to your August Court.

And that Si. John Gayers hoysting the Union Flagg on board y °_ "Tavistock" and afterward on the "Loyall Merchant" in contempt of His Ex^Lthen in the "Somers" and CapJL Lowths stop- ping the ships of this Port for not taking passes from the old CompJ*: &c. amuses these people to believe confusion in our Governmt-, for avoiding of w^ Bumbay being in their hands if the King granted y^_ Vice Admiralty of India would effectually evince these people of order amongst us.

The Embassador has left directions for the Com.^ of the "Harwick" when arrives from China to attend y?_ next season for support of the Kings authority, and the "Rooke" when she comes intend home a rich ship and may bee dispatch't in Aprill w*l? all or part of your Indigo expected wthin 20 dayes from Agra and the "Somers" goes to Bengali in few dayes w* Cotton yarne upon freight being wee could not for want of stock to discharge the sevIL cargoes and w'L the Embassy has drawn from us returne her to yfL Coast as they desired and you will bee better aprized when yil "Mountague" arrives in England, W* is what att presl believe proper for this conveyance. Comitt your great and noble undertakings to y±- guidance and protection of the Almighty take leave.

Postsc* .—Translate of our Kings letter relative to the agreement made with the English Embassador : —

Since the close of our letter have reel an acco1* from Brampore wrote by Rustumjee 1 1 dayes past that the great Gen1' after 3 dayes solicitation for His Excell^li stay sending the chiefest of his officers to acquaint him the dishonour he had done leaving the Court wii'out the Emp':» knowledge that sent such great Umbrahs 3 dayes journey to desire his returne and hee would grant what hee asked and being now there he had yi. same ord™ for his goeing back or stay at Brampore and the Phyrmaunds should bee delivered him in 15 dayes and expected a vissitt hee being the Great Gen11 of the EmpJL y± allowed him the pay of 40000 horse and 20000 horse besides foot w!l' him. But His Excelhy refused to goe, sending Mr. Harlewyn Mills and others w'-h 100 Gold Moars, some small amies, &c, wcJl hee accepted and gave vestmi unto all those Gentlemen, unto whom hee shewed a translate of our Kings letter w°Hhe EmpE. sent,

SURAT DIARIES. 229

saying that whatever agreement hee made w1^1 the English Embassador hee would w*£out examination seale it w*Ji his own hand, intreating the Embassador to stay, telling y" the Emp!l had sent some rich Jewells and elephant for our King and girdle and dagger &=• sett wQ diamonds &La and one elephant for himself, and tho: hee would not vissitt him y' was greater than y* Emp™ sonns, whom hee had not shewed that honour, hee had given him. The EmpQ daughter was in Brampore where His Maj'^0 had a throne, if the Embassador would goe thyther and receive y*. presents should wave other punctilios and give him liberty to proceed for Suratt, promising to send the Phyrmaunds after him, ordering fourty gold and silver dishes of meat to His ExcellSZ, who returned Mf Mills to acquaint y%. Genl} hee would neither vissitt him, receive yt present or stay, resolving to march immediately, soe exasperated the Gen1!, that first sent for Rustumjee, whom hee confined, then commanded upward of 5000 horse and foot with 8 field pieces overtaking II is Excell^ ab*. 3 leagues on this side Brampore, the Commander in Cheif still de- siring his returne, but being peremptorily denyed, seized upon His Excell0*" 4 guns and carryed y I? away. Severall shott and lances passing between w^ great shouting allarmed the Gen ^ brother, then in the mountaines, coining downe encouraged yl first Commander and his party that took His ExcellSi and retinue prisson^, carrying y™ to Brampore, where the Gen1! directed their own tents to bee sett up with a good guard ov*_ y™, ordering Mi Mills to tell the Embassador y*_ all this might have bin prevented had hee not spoyled his own business and that 'twas never knowne any Embassador departed a Kings Court without leave. Ml Mills replying that the Embassador desired to goe for Suratt in 3 or 4 dayes, ^ so surprized the Gen^., whose answ*_ and w*. past in this unaccountable rash action will bee overbulkey for this conveyance, design- ing all the whole affaire, God willing, by the " Rooke," the Gen!!> having promised a favorable report to y!. ErapL y* was marching to besiege Kilnash, from whom might expect an answr in 40 dayes, and if hee found other measures taken by the Embassador the Phyrmaunds hee desired should bee delivered.

Wee intend not to write His EeeUi!? yl3 or 4 dayes or till heare from him an acco*i of this action and then shall intreat him to discharge Mills, whom we believe in our judgments and consciences has bin yl tool for betraying the Embassy and an instrument of this unpresidented rashness y* has cost near 80000£, soe much to yl dishonour of our Great and Magnificent King and against the interest of your Honours and English nation in gen", and our integrety. Having already created soe many enemies shall only now presume in this great affaire to say His Excell°y and Mi Secretary was overgreat for their stations and above all inferior advice, humbly intreating you'l pardon our referring your August Court to what has bin wrote from His Excellency and by us to him and yi. Diary of this unintelligible tragedy for leaving the Court when all was offered him y*. hee required, comforting ourselves with hearty wishes for y* safe arrivall of your ships for bringing your instructions for our future Government y* wee may not bee found remiss imploying our tallent for the honour and service of your August Society, whose councells and negotiations humbly committ to the guidance and protection of the Almighty, intreat you to believe y* wee are

N. WAITE.

December 8*, 1701. B. MEWSE.

J. BONNELL. C. CARY.

Suratt, VecL.31«, 1701.

A para, regarding the threat to Sir John Gayer in default of a ffaithf ul accoii of the surplus in and out at the Custom house : —

Since our last the Governour has forc't payment of w! there advised from the Dutch and old Factory ; the first still confined and the latter shutt upp. The Gov L few dayes past sending b 1255—58

2S0 SVRAT DIARIES.

for S&L John Gayer, pretending out of kindness to see him, when in truth it was to deliver him and the Councell into yer hand and charge of the Cattwall, y* gave a receipt for their persons, and in whose custody their chief Broaker continues prisoner, the Governour threatening him if hee delivers not a ffaithful acco** in three dayes of the surplus w£^ appears by their entrys in and out att the Custom house to remaine in yl Countrey, will force him to turn Moor, the EmpiL having sent down w^L'in this nine dayes 'tis said an irrevokable order signed by the Prime Vizier publish't the 29^ inst*-. for yl old Factory satisfying all demands upon y™, and if sufficient assets are not found, to bee ignomously expelled the country, the Empi directing the Sydee or Admiral to seize Bombay, yi. hear is soe slenderly garrizond, will if attack't bee easily carryed, all w?_h might have prevented had that Factory imployed their tallent for the true interest of their Masters that has suffered more by their impolite and untoward heat break- ing thro: sacred promises and trusting to their unlymited power for corrupting all that gold will allure in ye whole managery of their affaires, when they might have compounded and there- by establish't a friendship w*1' these inhabitants for less than has bin given to the Governour &ca for not executing y% severall orders for payment upon y™ and defeating the Embassy vainly projected for expelling y* Hon™ out of Indostan, in w<^ last God be praised they and their adhearance being infallibly disappointed, will in favour to themselves assuredly charge all that can bee invented for destroying ... most valuable to man. And in these discouraging circumstances are wee in for preserving y*. Hon1!, for being obliged joyning with their misterious and incumbered stock having not yett found any reason to suspect these proceedings can imbroyle your affaires when your Phyrmaunds are delivered, though most Europeans, Jews,

and Gentiles are against y^ governing all our actions with those principles of virtue y*

our word is w^ whom creditt beyond what wee dare make use of as

affaires stand in Europe.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y^ 5£ and 6tfL Jan"T 1701-2.

This evening yJL Gov!, sent for Phillip Blower & told him yJL he would have him tell yfL General that the ye Kings orders abo^ Hosson Ammadans losses were very severe, and desired y L wee would sattisfie him, otherwise he must obay yJL King and put us to all yJL trouble & extreamity possible, our lives only excepted ; but as wee were strangers he had in a great measure forbore puting those severe orders in execution, in hopes of our complyance ; but if wee did not do it speedily he must proceed to y JL utmost.

6<a. — fhe merchants having met this morning at Mirza Z:iids, wee sent Sam: Richardson & Phillip Blower to know their thoughts of wl the GovL. intended by proceeding against us after this manner. He sent us word they had not come to any resolution, but he wo4 advise yl. GenL if yl Gov! shofL send to him again, to put him off till after yl. next Edaulet day, in w^ time yl merchants wo'l. begin to stir. In yl evening yl Gov! sent again for Phillip Blower to come to him, and wee ordered him whatever yl_ Govl said to him to give him no other answer then that wee would send him an answer to what he demanded by Merza Zaid tomorrow morning. Si? Blower returned and reported to yl Genii that yl GovL was very pressing to have Hosson Ammadan sattisfyed, & very severe in his expressions if wee did not comply.

JNO GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BEND ALL. B. WYCHE.

SVRAT DIARIE8. 231

Att a Consultation held in Suratt yl 7£ Jan ? 1701-2. This being Edaulet day y 1 GovJL sent to advise us yl he would stay no longer then (his morning for our answer, & wod_ have it broJL by an Englishman, & Yenwallidas* Bimtafl finding him so very angerey & pressing for said answer, wee thoJL it not possible to put bim off any longer, but must be forced to send it him, lett yl event prove bow it would; so after due consideration wee resolved to send Phillip Blower along w'Jl Venwallidass w * y • follow- ing answer, first to the Voecaunuvees & then to yl Governour, viz'. : that the Dutch and wee sent convoys to Moco w'A yl Kings and merch'l ships y'; year; that llosson Animadans ship was taken by y!L py rates, & 3 d. llosson Ammadan was warned by our people of yf| danger of not keeping compl before they sailed out of Moco & after; but he obstinately left their company without any stress of weather, and our ships could not leave y i Kings to look after him. Wee robbed him of nothing, but by his means wee were robbed att Judda of three hundred & ten thousand rupl, therefore wee could not pay him anything.

At w^ answer yl Gov r- was in a great passion, & said he would force us to comply by puting the Kings orders in execution to yl utmost severity.

gth — This day ye. Govl doubled his guards about y* ffactory & debarred us from all manner of correspondence \vth Europeans or Natives, and from all necessarys & conveniences of life, because we would not consent to pay Hosson Ammadan three hundred thousand rupee-;, for wcU sume he is willing to quit his unjust claim for wJt y_l pyrates robbed him & his {freighters of in yl year 1698.

1 .."k_ — Cap! Robert Hudson, Com^ of the " Loyall Bliss," took Shamjee, a Banian, who was come on board his ship, & rowed to all yl ships in y ° road belonging to this place ; & commanded them not to stir their anchors upon their perill, till yl Gov! had sett us att liberty and permit- ted provisions to come off to their ships.

Resolved to strike yi fflagg & fflagg staff to amuse yi. Governour & merchants.

JN1> GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt yJL 13':h_ Jan1! 1701-2.

Wee sent Phillip Blower (whom the GovJL permitted to come out of, & into y* ffactory) with the following Roca to him : —

Toy° Noble Dianaut Caun, Govi of Suratt. May it please yl Lordship,

You have been pleased to seize of my masters goods to yl amount of about two hundred and thirty-five thousand rup": & have delivered them to Abdull Guffore to sattisfie him for his pretended loss of one hundred & eighty-two thousand rup ■ w°JL he saith he was robbed of by a pyrate in yi Streights of Mallacca, This you have done as I presume by virtue of your Kings order, occasioned by a security paper yjL was extorted from my people by Eramanaut Caun at yi. perill of their lives: and now you further demand of me three hundred thousand rup* to sattisfie Hosson Ammadan for wl he saith he was robbed of by another pyrate, though no man in yl world can prove yl either I or my people ever robbed any one of a rupee. Moreover. I did yi year llosson Animadans ship was robbed send two ships in compl of yl Kings and merchants ships & Dutch convoys to helpe to convoy all safe out & home ; but Hosson Ammadan being proud, he would not keep company w'j1 my ships, but wilfully left them, though my people told him of yl hazard he would expose himselfe to, & yi they could not

232 SURAT DIARIES.

leave the Kings ships in hazard to go after his : but they convoyed yl Kings and other merchts ships yl kept them company safe back to these port, though I am not paid yl charges of that expedition to this day. Now wi1} what reason or justice can Hosson Ammadan then em and one rupee of me, on w^l acci I neither can, nor ever will pay him anything, and by wt justice can I and my people be here imprisoned, & wee & my people in three ships at this Barr (who have broJ considerable cargo's to y iKings Port) be so long debarred of provisions, water, wood & every thing else for y«L support of life. Was it ever known y* merch^ were so treated in any parts of yl world before ; besides Hosson Ammadans brother by his insinuation to y e- Shreif of Judda on accolof his loss by yl pyrates, hath occasioned my people there to be robbed of three hundred & ten thousand rupees, besides other great proffits yi would have accrued by y° ships safe returne to her port, & hath likewise procured yl CapL& merchant to be basely imprisoned. All this being duely weighed by your Lordship, I hope you will do me justice, yl yi. Kings port may flourish.

The above Roca being handed to yl Govl, he ordered it to be translated into Pertian & bro % to him tomorrow, & then told our messenger yl he was yi Genii? ffriend, & had done him a great many kindnesses, & wol do more if he woi comply & put an end to Hosson Ammadans business. Philip Blower told him y^ Genii was well sattisfyed in his ffriendship, & yl way for him to confirme it woA be to let him see yi Kings orders abol Hosson Ammadans demands, wcJL y • Gen'l was very desirous of. So he carryed him into another room & read yl orders to him, wcl was yl he shl seiz upon our persons & effects in case wee refuse to pay Hosson Ammadans losses.

14* — Wee sent yJL translation of yl above Roca to yl. Edaulet, ylGovJ: read it, & then threw it downe in a great passion, and askt yl messenger whether wee knew no better then to send him such a writing w2^ signifyed nothing.

IQtn — Wee sent to y 1 principal merchants in towne to acquaint them how much wee had Buffered by yl unjust demands of Hosson Ammadan, & yl it behoved them as Merch*! (if for no other reason then that they would be sufferers by yi stop of trade) to use their utmost endeavours to bring these present differences to a speedy conclusion ; & not flatter themselves wLl hopes of trading when our trade was stopped ; for if wee did not trade they could not, & such like arguments wee used to induce them to interpose between us & yl Govermi. Their answers were various, and gave us but little hopes of having any assistance from them ; but they all advised to bring in the Dutch for halfe if wee must pay yl money, they being convoys w!i? us at y_ same time.

27lh. — This day the General sent the following Roca to y* Govl : —

To yl Noble Dianut Caun, Govl of Suratt. May it please y r Lordship,

I and my people having been long oppressed by reason of y • unjust demands of Hosson Ammadan, I have many times petitioned yl Lordship for relief, but have not been so happy as to obtain any, wch obliges me once more to represent our oppressed condition to you. Tis now more then twelve months since, when at my arrival at Swalley bunder you were pleased to give me yl utmost assureance of y r_ favour & kind usage if I would come on shore : on yl faith of w$ I landed at my Choultry & was negotiating my masters business, without offering any violence or injury to any person, when on a sudden you were pleased to send yl armies to attack me in a hostile manner, to bring me, my wife & people to your house in an nnparraleld dishonourable manner, where you kept us, Presidl Colt & others of my masters servants, prisoners fourteen days. Afterwards y %. were pleased to permit us to come to our house but ordered guards round abol it, by wc^ means I, the Presidl, & my wife have been prisoners

SURAT DIARIES. 233

almost twelve months: forty days of wcl) time wee have all been deprived of whatsoever neces- sary for yl support of life, w4!!) is beyond wA hath ever been done to the worst of criminals, though wee are innocent merchants, who have bro*. an immence treasure to y^. Kings dominions, & have never been guilty of y°_ least crime agst him or his subjects, but have many times been serviceable to both ; notwithstanding you have late also seized of my masters goods to y," amount of about two hundred & thirty -five thousand rupees to pay Abdull Guffore, for w*_ he pretends his ships were robbed of by y° py rates, & now you further demand of me three hundred thousand rup B to sattisfie Hosson Ammadan for w* he saith he was robbed of by the forementioned Villains (who are rebels of all Nations subject to no Governmi.), notwithstanding yl by his means wee have been robbed of aboA three hundred & ten thousand rupees at Judda, besides y« proffits of j» voyage back. This being y_£ true state of the case, & I and my people having never robbed any one of a pice, I cannot pay him one Almond.* One of my ships hath layen at this Barr fifty-five days, two others seaven & thirty days, and one twelve days without allowance of provisions or water, & now they have all lost these monsoon for England ; these & former grievances y * wee have suffered render it im- possible for me to trade to this port any longer ; therefore I request y *. I and my people may have liberty to go on board our ships, w.'.li our effects to returne to our native country. If this my reasonable request be deneyed, I know not wl the severity they suffer on boardship & on land may prompt them to, rather then starve to death. This I desire y£. will take into your serious consideration, for y_* it is not In my power to keep y™ any longer under yji circumstances they now are, from wsjl if y* Lordship doth not deliver them, I shall be innocent, whatsoever they do. God preserve you. Suratt y^ 27th Jan?/ 1701-2.

The Gov^ sent us word yl. he must ob.ty y ° Kings orders : w.* did wee designe to do ? Did wee designe to starve ourselves ? why did wee not deposite goods & he would write to yl King, & wee might do yJL same & yl. goods should ley till y% Kings orders came abot them. Wee returned answer, wee robbed not IT osson Ammadan nor nobody & would not pay or deposite any- thing ; if y±. Kings orders are to kill us, let him come & do it quickly, wee wi. sell our lives as dear as wee could. Our people on board y £. ships at y.1 rivers mouth and likewise those in yl ffactory wee could not longer restrain from attempting something extraordinary for yJL support of life, therefore he would do well to consider where it would end.

JN°_ GAYER.

STEPHKN COLT.

E. BEND ALL. B. WYCHE.

February yl 6th: 1701-2. — The Gov* relaxed his severity & allowed us a certain quantity of provisions & water &c_a. as he did after our first enlargem*. & appointed persons to treat w* us, sometimes in athreatning manner & sometimes flattering, to cause us to pay Hosson Ammadan, but their mediation proveing ineffectual, he made choice of three others amongst which MonsI Pillavoine yl Ffrench Directour was over persuaded to list himselfe.

"While wee were thus in treaty wee got Cap! Raynes his Docl & third Mate out of y_? ffactory, who got safe on board ship.

gth — jjy heip 0f a \\t\Q money amongst our guards, wee got Cap! Raynes out of yl ffactory in an ordinary sailers habit.

•The Gold Moor or Gold Roupie is valued generally at 14 of silver; and the silver Roupie at two shillings three pence. Besides these they land Foreign Coyns but not in that plenty ; and pice, which are made of copper, sixty of wliich, sometimes two or three more or less, are valued at a. ltoupie. Lower than these, bitter almonds here pass for money, about sixty of which make a Pice. — '* A Voyage to Surat," by J. Ovington, page 219.

b 1255—59

234 SURAT DI ABIES.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt f% 12$ Ffeb^ 1701-2.

The persons appointed by y • Gov I. to treat w$ us came to yl ffactory viz * Monsi! Pillavoine accompanyed by Monsn_ Pisserant & Parthon, Merza Ebraim and Bhidass y*. cheif Diwan and used sundry argum** to persuade us to a complyance, as yl positiveness of yl Kings orders, & yl further severity y* yl- GovJ[ would inflict on us if wee did not comply w$ them, to w0i> Monsi Pillavoine added, y 1 though wee were forced to pay so great a sume unjustly now, wee might take an oppertunity to cause yl Moors to refund it, but neither his nor his partners arguing were of force to gain upon us : well knowing y 1 if wee pi anything to Hosson Ammadan, wee shi* open a gap for y • remainder of y • eighty lack of rupl to break in uppon us. However, they would not take our answer now, but made us promise to take two days more to consider of it, and they wofi come for our answer about it.

JN9. GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL. B. WYCHE.

March 13% 1701-2.— This day arrived y° Kings Phirmaund to remove our late Gov?;, from his Government of this place & to constitute in his room Mahmud Anvees yl Siddees Vuckeel under yl. title of Ettabar Caun, who accordingly this day took upon him yl administration of affaires. Tis agreed by all y* yl reason of Dianut Cauns disgrace is yJL undue measures he has taken in yf. affaires of yl port, w£j! the new GovL is perticularly recommended to open ; in order thereto he has made us very large promises of his favour, desiring that wee would forthwith take off all restraints and give passes to yl. merchants.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y • 14$ March 1701-2. Wee agreed upon y 1 following Articles to be sent to y± new Gov! Ettabar Caun, vizi. — The request of Si Jnl Gayer, Gen1! for y % affaires of y± old Company, unto Ettabar Caun, Gov f of Suratt : —

1*. That all yl guards round my ffactory or anywhere else belonging to me be re- moved, & I, all my English men, & all else belonging to me be set att liberty.

2. That my Companys goods & effects be freely exported & imported, & y*. I may buy & sell goods at my pleasure, & yi custome be taken from me as usualL & yl herein no one cause me any hinderance.

3. That I, my Englishmen & my servants be permitted freely to go out of yl towne to gardens for recreation, & may go to & from Swalley, Bombay, England & other places aboi. merchandize, yl herein no one cause any interuption.

4. That your Lordship would write to Court & to Shaw Azzum to release yl goods y* are detained at Ahmadavad, Neriad, Dolka, Duboy, Brodera, Cambay, & other places.

5. Dianut Caun forceibly took from me sundry of my Companys goods & gave them to Abdull Guffore, these I desire may be restored.

The Gov! Ettabar Caun returned yf. following answer to yl. foregoing articles, to wSh he set his hand & seal vizi : —

To the l!i. The supernumerary men shall be removed, but some must continue till it please God you land y * Europe ships cargo's yi are lately arrived & then all shall be removed.

To the 21 • That when yl present stop to y_l port is removed you may carry on your trade as formerly & no one will hinder it.

8UBAT DIARIES. 235

To the 3rd. Except y ° Chiefs, yi is yi Gov?r of Bombay and President, may go & come as formerly & no one shall hinder them ; but if y • Genii or PresidA want to go to take their pleasure in yi gardens, let y ™ take leave & go.

Toy! 8*. What Dianut Caun did was according to yo?L security paper, but if you can prove he took more then was lost, I will write to the King yi it may be returned.

Dated y • 25^. Shuvical in yi 46^ year of yi Moguls Reigne.

This day it was debated, y*. seeing yi Agra & Serung goods of last year was under yi late Go' £! Seal, being seized by him for to make satisfaction for what Ml Hosson Ammadan was robbed of by yi pyrates, and seeing yi after several applications to yi new Govl wee could not obtain liberty to lade said goods on the " Martha" & " Ilearn" (to w£^ yi Brokers were wee believe more averse then y i Govl. tho : they laid all yi blame upon him), & seeing wee had no other goods but nine bales of Baftas & thirty-five bales of cotton yarne to lade on said ships here, whether wee shd land wi part of yi cargoes of yi "Loyall Bliss," "Nathaniel" & "Hearn" w°i are designed for this part ? and at last for yi following reasons, was resolved to land all their silver, but five chests, w5^ wee reserved to pay for pepper contracted for at Carwar, & to supply yi necessitys of Anjengo, w^i Garrison was in a great streight for want of money. Att Callicutt they had taken three chests of Doll'A out of y 1 "Hearn"; w^ is sufficient to pay for wl pepper they had bo*_ & to defray yJ! charges of yi ffactory & Tellecherry, & wee apprend fl there is no need of sending more money there to buy more pepper, for yi wee shi have remaining in warehouses at yi several ffactorys (after yi. " Martha" & " Hearn" was laden) about sixteen hundred candy.

Wee also resolved to land one hundred & three bales of broad cloth & nine of stuffs, w°* was all yi. was proper for this markett, w^ all yi white & red lead, pigg lead, anchors, iron & one chest of telliscopes : all yi rest of yi goods wee resolved should be continued on yi ships for Persia, they being designed for that markett, except yi guns w^1 wee designed to sell att Bombay at yi. ships returne, where they would yield much more then here. Now reasons yi induced us thus to do are vizi : —

1**. Our debts here are very great & our Creditors very clamorous for money.

2J . Shuld wee send yi money to Bombay it would there ley dead, & should wee send yi goods proper for this place thither they would ley dead also, for yi litle if any would sell there, & yi cloth & stuffs w^1 are much damaged vr* be eaten up by y *. wormes, & to send it to Persia would be as bad, for yi there is already a great deal more designed for y * place then wee can imagine will sell in a long time especially of stuffs.

3di?. Should wee not land said money & goods, none would ffreight on yi ships to Persia, thinking wee intended a warr.

4!y. This wo <L undo all yJL wee had done w*h yi new Govi, cause him to treat us severely & to write hard things against us to Court, wc_t might greatly influence yi. King, not only against us but against Madrass, Ffort Si Davids, & Calcutta, where wee hear his orders are already forwarded to seize the persons of all yi R. H. Ci servants & all their effects ; besides wee might all perish here, for y_L yi Brokers will not supply us w'i pice for our subsistance, & if our ships shoA not go on ffreight to Persia, great troubles according to wi yi Agent & Council have wrote us may ensue there ; besides all this 'tis probable yi our ships will bring from thence in money & good on ffreight to a greater amount then wee shall land, w£^ may be secured on their arrival, if in y.? interim yi. R. H. C?_ shall think fitt to break w1^ yi Moors.

236 SUEAT DIARIES.

Ordered yl Brokers to pay seaventy two rupees to Gangardass Verdamon for provisions y % Governour of Daman sent on board yl "Martha," "Nathaniel" and "Loyall Bliss" at y • rivers mouth.

March 17'K — The Generals writing given to Ettabar Caun at his request upon yl removal of our guards : —

I, S L Jnl Gayer, Genl! for affaires of y • Old Comp *. in Surat, write to yl King, y* from yl encouragem* Ettabar Caun has given I am rejoyced. I desire him to write to yl Kingy! trouble I have unjustly received from former officers unto this time, & j3 losses y t I have sustained by their false slanders. By yl Kings commands I have acquired this agreem jL w*l y_* Govl yl. in yl. same manner owners of ships and merch^ formerly sent their ships whither they pleased, so they shall do now : & my ships yl are at yl rivers ml.

& yl ships importing & going out shall now desist, & any ships going upon a

voyage shall have rny pass.

The Govl having given us assureance of his favour by taking of all our guards but five, and having given us larger promises under his seal mentioned yl 14*1 ins* following, upon his request yl GenlL Presidl & Council went to give him a vissit, at w2i meeting he was pleased to give us assureances of his favour ; desireing yl wee would forget yl injuries yl had been done us by his predecessers by means of our long & severe imprisonment, & y.*_ wee would open the Port, w?-h wee promised to doe. Att our coming away he gave yl Genii a horse & severall peices of silk, and to yl Presidl & Council yl was w*!1 him several peices of silk likewise.

JN2. GAYER.

STEPHEN COLT.

E. BENDALL. B. WYCHIS.

Surat, May dg 1702.

Honi- S»,

(Para. 34.) The Lord Embassador has already informed your Honour being determined to leave Suratt this season and no other ship of ... . that wee could possibly putt into a sayling posture, His Excellency agreed with Capl Geo : Luke Burrish and Mrt Walter Combs supercargoe of the " Scipio," a permissive ship on the seperate stock, burthen three hundred Tunn, that wee should pay Rl 10000, viz. R?. 2000 M.£ Combs himself and R!, 8000 to said Cap*, Burrish for accommodation of His Excellency and thirteen of his retinue whose names w*l the other 13 persons in the "China Merchant " goes inclosed, w^ wee have been obliged to pay and grant lycense pursuant to His Excellencys agreement for said Cap*_ Burrish and Ml. Combs, investing said ten Thousand Rupees in such goods as they please for Europe likewise inclosed, and had any particulars bin given in what elsce went on board si ship " Scipio" it is our duty to have transmitted j%. to jaiL. HonLs.

The Embassador delivered over within 5 dayes after his coming to Suratt 10 Camell, 117 Oxen, 18 Carts, 19 Hackerys, two Coaches more broaken : sold w** the concurrant approbation of His Excellency for Rs_ 1559-12. Of the largest and best oxen His Excellency reserved for the export in both said ships to Mauritious.

The 25^ instant His Excellency determined and appointed some dayes precedent for em- barking and accordingly directed both your sloops downe to lye before the garden in wch hee lay. The Governour being acquainted thereof by your Broakers for preventing any dispute or other inconveniency goeing on board, and respectfully clearing their baggage, declared y.1 Dianatt

QUttAT DIARIES. 237

Cawne. Lite Governour, delivered liim y 1 Emperors order that came some months past, notifyed to US for not permit ti ni;- his goeing ofl", w''1' was wrote His Excellency the 7tK <>f .Ianrv, and the Gover- nour knew well the Embassador had received y" Kinperors letter and present from the QrtSt (icnerall for the King of England att Brampore. , Would not hearken to any arguments having pay'd 250000 rupees for, this Government and daily hVesiug the inhabitants, and the old Companys emissarys telling him hee might nowgett money, initiated vexatious trouhles, was att last forced to promise him a present, wrh lay incumbant. upon us, as told your Hon!! by your "Rooke" to every new Governour and Minister when first entered your employment had there not hin this occasion to demand it, and His Excellency writing us the 2 1-11' instant hee was resolved to embarke the next day with his baggage, asappearea by said letter on consultation and reply, agreed to give yf Governour IIs 3000, the Yocanivis Ra_ 1000, the Harcarra 1000 in Europe produce atty.1 eurr*, valuation, and the .'500 rupees in money to the Meer or €hief Customer for clearing all his baggage, performed with respect, not opening any of His Excellencys or other baggage. Your Chief Councell and all that could bee spared out of your Factory waited upon His Excellency the said 25th instant att the garden where hee lay, His Excellency presenting S* Nicholas Waite m ith his travelling tent, his chaire and stool of state, an elephant 8 foot 3 inches high, and a horse, which last hee had from yj? Mogull after his audience.

M' Thomas llarlewyn delivered Mr Wj* Proby eight thousand rupees sealed up in bags, found afterwards to he old Bengali rupees 1| per cent, worse than made in Suratt, out of w^1 gome M' Saudi ford was to receive what he should have occasion for discharging some dehts of the Embassy, who accordingly had pay'd him 111 3785 as per his receipt given in your generall receipt book. What further may be pay'd are not yet informed.

The recJj of said RST 8000 and 1559 for oxen &£. and y* aforementioned payments are

since the accoi* curr" stated out of your books for what this Presidency had furnisht the

Embassy amounting to Rupees 369345-8$, examined., allowed and approved under the hand of His Excellcy the 23'i. insti1 besides interest cast upp to the 31st ultimo amounting to Rl 315G8-51 charged to the Embassy, being it is pay'd out of yoJT Hon1'* estate, copy of w?|L said acco" goes now inclosed. Probably may want some small sumes to bee added as well as paid not possibly being incerted till 18 horses left with the Steward and two ordinary travelling Pallenqueensare sold, which shall bee with W-*, expedition wee can. Yl remaining tents delivered as worth nothing are all that att present wee know has come into the Factory ; and your Honours having bin att the expence of almost all y .1 now presented S*. Nicholas Waite hee humbly resignes the chaire and stool of state for y • use of your Chapel, the tents of little value, to bee disposed of as your Chief and Councell shall see most for your interest as likewise y e elephant, said to bee old, vallued by those y ..understand said creatures att Rupees about 2000, hee believing it not your interest introducing such a state for your Presidents, said beast costing near Rupees 100 per mensem, believe must present her y*. Governour to bee rid of the charge.

His Excellency has not been pleased to deliver us any copy of his Diary, not proper to bee seen hee says in India.

Copies of the first years acco*!8 till His Excellency arrived at Suratt was transmitted by

your servants out of the originall books His Excellency left the President and since

delivered by ML Timothy Allestree with y L. copyes to bee signed, which are not returned,

probably by some mistake, goeing hastily off the 25*^ and not reaching the severall ships till

the 2!Jt'1.

N. WAITE.

WM PROBY.

B. MEWSE.

J. DUE.

b 1255—60

238 SURAT DIARIES.

Para. 13. — The 4*h instant att night received a letter from your President and Councell of the Coast, dated att Madopallain yl 10^ October, inclosing us copy of 21 articles said to bee unanimously agreed in both Generall Courts for a union of both Companys, with a letter directed

from yol_ HonS to yJ5 by yl upon said subject dated the 10th_January 1701 w^ wee most

heartily congratulate, and shall in every matter performe all that in our power answering y? end of such a happy conclusion making the first step. Upon opening next morning the 5th inste your Presidents pacquett directing in Councell in said articles and your letter to be transcribed and sent inclosed that morning, Si Nicholas Waite was desired to write Sr Jnl Gayer, delivered by our Secretary. Copy thereof go's in this pacquett with S"l J"° Gayers answer dated the 7th instant inclosing copy of a letter from the Governour and Councell dated y^_ 12^ January 1701 verbatim. Yl same with the other transmitted us by your President &<;% w^1 Sir Jnl Gayer tells us came by your ship " Tankervile" sent by President Beard and received here y.f. beginning of last month, and was communicated to the Gov£. and other Merchants and not to us, reporting a new Generall Councell was coming out upon yl. next ship, Sjl Nicholas Waite ser.t for home in disgrace, all wrote upp to Court, and the same or next day Si John received the articles and letter from us hee declared yl publick union &°<t att the publick table and att night to the Governour and others, telling y!l it was confirmed by us, renewing their former information that a new Generall and Councell was coming out upon yl next ships and yo_£ President sent for home in disgrace. Desired y£ Gov™ leave shipping off their goods for lading yJL " Loyall Bliss" and " Nathaniel " daily expected from Persia, and upon ym Sj; Jnl. and Ml Colt goeing downe to Bombay for seeing the Castle and other great damages they sustained in y5_ late violent storme repaired, and would returne wi£ the new Generall. How these proceedings may answer yl end of either Company or y® united stock every month forward will wee are confident evince you, our Honorable Masters, and y^ whole world that what has been wrote you of occurrances and y*. state of affaires att Suratt was not unfaithf ull or erroneously digested.

These reports goeing upp to y? EmpJL and that mercenary Court encamp't in their winter quarters att Pergam, eight dayes by cossett from Surrat, but the 12^ ultimo marching in few dayes from thence to besiege Puna Chaela, a strong fortress in y- mountaines, where it is said ye Savajees women and children are lodged, Rustumjee informed us by letter dated yl 25th ultimo has now stopped our Phyrmaunds granted by yS request and by y? interest of Gazdee Cawne, yl great Generall, till yl. arrivall of our Europe ships, and then taking their measures accordingly.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y± 13*i May 1702. Wee met to consider of yl several messages yi wee had rec^ from y%. Gov.1; how yl he being but newly come to y t place, he could not carry on our business so currantly at Court without meeting wHi disappointments, unless yJL Voccaunuvees was joyned w!* him ; \vch he did not doubt of, if wee applyed ourselves to him, but if he sh^ seem indifferent, he advised us to make him a promise of some reward, & then he doubted not but our business woiL go on according to our desires. After thorough consideration of yl matter amongst ourselves wee concluded y_L unless wee could secure him firmely on our side yJL Gov™ interest at Court woi be but small ; but his avaritious temper put us upon considering of y_e great sumes yA was continually going out, & our business going but very slowly on. Therefore wee ordered Venwally to go to him, & try how inclining he was to espouse our cause, & to use w*_ arguments he could to gain him to our interest, & if he found by discoursing him y* wee must give him money, to bring him to as low termes as possibly he could ; then make him a promise, that after our guards were all taken of, & our trade went on without interruption as

SURAT DIARIES. 239

it used to do in former times, wee w£ pay him y e. money. Venwallidass came & told us yJL he had heen w11'. the Voccaunuvees & discoursed him ; but found him very greedy of money, & without it he was not to he prevailed upon, neither was he contented to stay till our business was compleated, hut wo'* have something in hand, &y* he found, after y %. utmost endeavours, nothing less woi sattisfie him then five thousand rupjL. On w!Lh wee resolved, since there was no avoiding of it, our business being so far advanced & in all probability was likely to succeed well to give him two thousand rap*, now & a promise of three thousand rupi. more when all y • forementioned business was fully compleated.

lAlh.. — Mr Sam: Richardson SecE? deyed intestate: upon w?^ wee ordered Will Mildmay & Tho • Wilshere ffactors to seal up y± office till such time as wee should appoint one to succeed him ; & that they take an exact inventory of all his things & lock them up till wee had time to sell them at publick outcry.

The GovJL sent to demand rent for yi. part of yi. ffactory w5^ belongs to y .• Mogull, and being unwilling to disoblige him in any respect, wee ordered him five hundred rup_ towards y± rent of said part of yi. house 500

l&L. — Ordered y*. paymi of fifty-four thousand sixty -two rupi. & thirty- six pice to Soordass Venwallidass for fifty thousand borrowed of himy:L 25*h_ June last 54062:36

19lJL. — Ordered y.*. pay mi of six hundred rupi. to WE Mildmay Stewi

to defray yi. expences of yi house & to pay y«L peons wages ... 600

JN9_ GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y i 20^ May 1 702.

The Warehouse-keeper & SecEI places being vacant by yi. death of Mess™ Jni. Robinson & Sam : Richardson, wee met to consider of yi. most fiting persons wee have in y • ffactory at this time to succeed them, that yi business of yi. office & Warehouse might not stand still ; & wee resolved upon W5L Brooke to take charge of the Warehouse, but not to be of Council, W™ Mildmay of the SecEX employ, & Jni. Brangwin to succeed him in the Stewards business, & gave each of them y_ following orders: —

M*. W™ Mildmay,

Wee doe by these presents appoint & constitute you Secretary of this ffactory & do hereby require you to take charge of all y • R. H. Ci Registrey belonging to said station & y *. you keep y^ same in y.1 best order possible, causing w± is at present fowle entered to be coppyed over fair: also yJL you do in yJL future enter into books as accustomary whatever is by us transacted in Council, y l y± same may by us be signed next Council day ; and wee do also require yJL you keep an exact Register of all passes & orders given by us & yA wee shall receive from yl. R. II . Gs ; & yi. all general letters in & out, & all other papers of moment be duly coppyed into books; & that you keep a diary of all materiall passages yi shall occur w^> respect to y* R. H. Ci. affaires, y* Govi or other Europeans affaires, inhabit- ants of this city yi shall come to y i. knowledge & be given you in charge to be recorded by us: & y'i. this business may be yi. better effected and all things kept in good order wee do

240 SURAT DIARIES.

appoint MessI!. Thol Wilshere, Jn % Thorburn, Jn_l Hill & Thol Sutton to be yJL assistants. Given under our hands this 20^ May 1702.

Mi W™ Mildmay,

These are to enorder y^ to make up y.« ace'? of yl Stewardship to yJL last day of this month & to deliver all yl R. H. Gl plate, & whatsoever else y 1 have of theirs in your charge to Mr_ Jnl Brangwin, whose receipt y • are to take for all yl you deliver him & to keep yl' same in yl Registry you are now intrusted wli?. May 201*1, 1702.

M' WE. Brooke,

These are to enorder yl to take yl charge of all y 1 R. II. Ol Warehouses in and belonging to this ffactory as their Warehouse-keeper for said ffactory, in the discharge of w^ trust wee require yl to take an exact inventory of all their goods & necessarys in each Warehl & yj. you compare yjj. same w^ Mj Jnl Robinsons acci* of remains. • If you find any difference between his acc!l & yours, you are to give us an exact ace*;, thereof, that you may not be charged w^ more then you receive ; & to prevent all unnecessary disputes hereafter, wee require you to have Ml RichA Johnson & MJL Phillip Blower present wi^ y ° as witnesses to all yl accll you take of w± is in each Warehl. This being done you are to debt yourself for wl you receive & keep an exact pare of booke, wherein you must enter all y_L you receive and deliver in y « future wS^ will be for y * credit if duely formed. Given under our hands in Suratt ffactory this 20f May.

M-I Jn_l Brangwin,

These are to enorder you to receive into your charge all yl R. H. Cl plate & whatsoever else of theirs is at this present in yl custody of Mil WEL Mildmay, for yi wee doe hereby appoint and constitute you Steward in his roome, for all w£^ you are to give him a receipt & debt yourselfe in a booke ; & wee likewise require that you keep an exact accl. daily of all your disbursments, & yi. you enter them into said booke, as is accustomary, & y*. saidacc*! be produced to us monthly for our perusall.

Ordered yl payment of two thousand one hundred thirty-seaven rupl seaven- teen pice to yl. bearer (wee mention no name because yl Brokers shA not know to whom it was paid), yiL money being for two thou- sand eighty-eight rupl & forty-eight pice borrowed of Cuppoor ye 16^. Ffebruary last to pay yl Moody & peons wages, when our Brokers would not supply us w!£ money, wee being in

trouble w^ yJL Government 2137:17

21si Ordered y* payment of- forty-six rupl thirty-six pice to James

G reeves for his & Lascars wages belonging to yl Sloop and

Country boat 46 :36

27!^ Gave yl Honble Step : Colt, Presid * , a receipt for three hundred eighty-four rupl. he p * into yl R.H.Cl cash for M^ Thol Somas- ter, his wife & two slaves, their permission to go home upon

yl "Martha" as accustomary 384

Ordered yl paymi of two hundred fifty-five rupl sixty-two pice to yl. bearer for two hundred forty-nine rup?. fifty-seaven pice borrowed of Cuppoor y.e. 21± Ffebl? last to pay y 1 Sloop & Country boats and Lascars wages.

28lh_ . — Agreed y £ seeing M r_ Sam : Richardson deceased had made good but five thousand two hundred sixty-nine rupl fifty-eight pice of yl six thousand yJL he subscribed to yl Pros- perouses Stock; & finding his estate not answerable to his debts, y* yl GenlL should takeoff

SUBAT DIARIES. 241

from his subscription yl remaining seaven hundred & thirty rup" fourteen pice, w*1! sume he making good is added to his own subscription, yl yl stock might continue intire as it was first raised.

31"i, 1702. — Our Cossets often miscarrying between Madras & this place, wee sent a third coppy of our last letters to yl Presid * &cl by an Armenian conveyance.

JNo GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. WM MILDMAY, E. BENDALL.

Seoa. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y.! 12^ June 1702. Abol yi begining of last rains yl Govl of this place having given us some cause to suspect yl he had a designe to invade Bombay, wee ordered yl Deputy Gov^ & Council to consult w!^ yl Ingeneir and Commission Officers about adding some strength to yl litle ffort at Mayhim w^S all possible speed, allowing them to spend three thousand Xl thereon if need required it. Now after they had made some progress herein they wrote us yl it wo<^ cost more then wee had allowed them to bestow on it: in answer to w$ wee wrote thS it did, they shj* use all possible dilligence to finish it, & wi wee tho* it had been near done, they sent us a modell of wl they designed to erect, noteing how far yl worke was carryed on & how much it had & wol cost, yl sume expended was X_"

3397 : 0 : 0 yl sume to finish it at all w^L wee were extreamly surprized, but they laid

the blame on Ml. Van Duuren, who made such an erronious computation. Now wee were not only surprized at yl extreordinary charge yl it wol amount to, but that yl worke was not above one-sixth part done, v?cA wee designed for an immediate strength to yl island, in case it shi be invaded by yl Moores or Portigues, w^ whom wee had reason to expect a breach & yl speedily. Another thing yl troubled us much was our fear yl in time yl sea might wash pl of it away, and then so much money would be ill bestowed. However, seeing they had gon on so far & yl it wo iL add great strength to yJL island w° finished & greatly augment yl. Custome of Mayhim, wee ordered y4 if they could be assured yl it woi. be in no danger from yl sea, yl they shol use all possible dilligence to get it finished.

The Gov I being forced to set out w*h all his force to convoy y.! Kings treasure to yl borders of his Governm*, w^1 is reported to amount to twenty-five lack of rup!., he sent a compliment to yjL Gen^l, y* at his returne w^ woi. be in seaven or eight days, yl guard abol yl ffactory shoi be all taken off.

JNO GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. W« MILDMAY, E. BENDALL.

Sec£Z. B. WYCHE.

July 16$, 1702.— The Govi1 sent a Chubdar to remove all our guards, & Sallamond Chellaby a Turke who had been several times employed by y • Gov _r to us, came likewise from him to acquaint us y* he desired us to come to his house y* he might in our presence make it publick to all yl officers yi our guards were removed, & y* it was done by yl consent of all. Accordingly, yl Gen*! & Council went, where they were honourably reoi by y_e Gov]; and towne officers, & although yB guards were before removed, yet he again B1255— Gi

242 SUB AT DIARIES.

gave orders for y_? doing of it in y!L presence of y? Voccaunuvees & Horcorra w^L their joynt consent, so after y* usuall cerimony of rose water &£iof giveing y™ some ps's of silk, he dismised yH w5 protestations of his favi, desiring jr*. they woi pray & act for y° good of yl port.

JN9 GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. W5* MILDMAY, E. BENDALL.

Sec!7. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y • 2$ Sep I 1702.

Having been ever since yS 24"? of y ° past month debating w^ y!. Gov.! & hi9 Deputy abo* w* to give him, Venwallidass this day brol us word y* he could not bring him to accept of less then thirty-five thousand rupees, though wee had yet offered him but twenty thousand. Wee told him of y° vast sums y* had been forced from us in this nature, there- fore bid him tell y.f Govl y^ wee would not consent to give him one pice more then w* wee had agreed upon ; & y* wee expected he sho^ immediately put his promises in execution ; wE*1 was to get an order from y!_ King to clear all our goods w^ are stopt in all places of his dominions as well Bengali, Madrass &ci as in this Presidency; y} he shi clear Mi Annesleys business ; give us Tanksall &°_? as more largely appears, fol : 43.

After y5 death of ML Sam: Richardson, We Mildmay being appointed Sec!? & ordered to examine yi. Registry of y!L office & to use all possible dilligence to bring up w^ Mi Richardson might have omitted, by reason of our long troubles and his late sickness, he

broi us in an acal y? June (w£^ is entered in y4 Consultation yi day, fol: 30) wherein

it appeared y * he had been extreamly negligent of y| trust reposed in him, att w$ wee were much surprised, & for w^ he was cheifly obliged to his uncle Annesley, who so plyed him w* his perticular business, as not only diverted him from y« business of his station, but almost incapacitated him for yl performance thereof, as wee perceived a litle before his death. Finding matters w^1 respect to said office in such a condition, wee ordered W™ Mildmay all the assistance wee could afford him for y • coppying of letters, and ordered him to pick out of his papers all such memorandums as he could find of w * had been concerted in Council, y*. all might be formed into books for that purpose, w?h. by help of wt wee retained in our memorys is broi up into y_* forme it now is in said books ; but it's probable y J? several things may have sliped ML Richardsons pen as well as our memorys, therefore wee do unanimously assert y* nothing was transacted in y « R. H. C? affaires of y • least moment in y% time j% Registry was so neglected, but w* was done by joynt consent of ye Gen4 Preside & Council, though Ml Robinson dying, Mj Somaster being gone for England & Mi. Garnet for China ere this business could be effected, they could not signe w J is now entered. Witness our hands.

JNO GAYER. STEPHEN COLT.

WM_ MILDMAY, E. BENDALL.

Sees. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y • 2l!i Sepi 1702.

There being a years sallery become due to y% R. H. C^L servants, Mi Bernard Wyche

desired to know if he sho.d make up ye sallery bill ? onwci. he was ordered to do it, & yj

though M r W2. Brooke, who was on y % 20^ May appointed to take charge of y « Warehjf was

not admitted to be of Council, yet seeing yT* he had hitherto discharged his trust to our

8URAT DIARIES. 243

sattisfaction, wee thol good for his encouragem* y^ he might persevere in yf like faithfull discharge of said trust to appoint him y? sallery of yl Warehouse-keeper; halfe to he paid here & halfe in England : but wee doe not intend hereby (at least will at present) to entitle him to y*. station of y£ forth person in Councill or to any superiority above such as are his seniors in standing.

This morning y« Gov.r sent Selleraon Chelleby to y • Genji. and desired yl he would come to his house for he had something to discourse him about. The Gen1.! returned answer, yi he was very much out of order, & had been so for some time, therefore desired to be excused coming himself e, but y* Presidi & the rest of his Council sho? wait on him; at w^ answer y° Govil was not sattisfyed, but sent word he would stay for yl Generals coming till tomorrow.

In y° afternoon he sent Siadealle Nazier & Sellemon Chelleby to yl. Genii to acquaint him of w*. ye. King had wrote him abo_* clearing the goods, w??J was to this effect; that y.? Voccaunuvees & Horcorra had wrote him y* it was necessary for y • good of yl Port yi y?. Dutch goods were cleared, otherwise yiL Custome wo? be much deminished. In answer to wch y<^ King wrote lett Ettabar Caunsattisfy himselfe well aboi yl Europians & write me his opinion abot them, & then I will give the necessary orders: after w£?i yl Siade desired y« Gen1! y* he wo? in no wise impede or hinder y* trade of y° place, the Genii told him y.i if no one molested us in our affaires, wee would not molest them; wee had as great a desire to carry on our business in quietness as they. After much discourse of y * like nature, wth abundance of fair promises of {friendship on their side, with intreatys yl wee wo?, do yl like on ours, yf Siade desired yl Gen1? to give him his hand yl he wo? not molest or be any ways detrimental to yl good of y • Port, on w^ yl Gen1.1, gave him his hand, but answered as before. Y± Siade w!l? yl same assureance engaged y _* whatsoever wee desired of yl Gov * relating to our affaires sho ? be granted, and so wee took leave.

There arrived att this rivers mouth the "Arabia Merch^," Cap * Jackson Com?f, belonging to yl private subscription, abo^ 150 ton, bound from England to Moco & Muscatt, laden w^? guns, anchors, ammunition &cl, but loosing her passage to Moco came to this port.

On y® 16^ of this month yl Droger of yl Tanksall to bring him an ace.* of

the ground belonging thereto : upon perusal of w^ he appointed us a pi out of it, 13 Gov*? long 9| broad, & liberty to dig 6 Cov^l deep : upon W& wee immediately set Mess : & Bricklayers to worke to inclose said spot of ground, & to build convenient places for to coin & keep our silver in. But yl Tanksall Shroffs being alarmed hereat, met together and consulted of wl measures to take to prevent our effecting wlwee designed & agreed to bribe yl. officers ; & meeting in great numbers, made great clamours, & hindred our people from working, upon w$ wee complained to y! Gov1; , who sent the Ammeen & a Chubdar to forbid any to interupt our building. Then yl Shroffs applyed themselves to y i Castle Gov! , who again inter upted our business out of pretence it was too near y" Castle; y*. he did not know but wee might undermine it; so our worke stood still some days till yl. two Gov™ had agreed upon matters between them. At last when wee had almost made an end of diging, wee accidentally hit upon a hollow place in yl ground, w?t yl Shroffs &ciL laid hold of & said it went so far as yf Castle, upon wlh all was stoped again, and yl Govr forced to order yl ground to be filled up again, & promised us a p.8. in another place.

JN9. GAYER. STEPHEN COLT.

W5! MILDMAY, E. BEXDALL.

Seel?. B. WYCHE.

244 SURA T DIARIES.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y • 29«L OctoJL 1702.

Having rec^ amongst other letters from Madrass a copy of y «. R. H. Cl letter to yl Presidl & Council there, dated yl 13^ March 1701, wcl adviseth of yl death of our Sovereign Lord King William of blessed memory & ordereth yl proclaiming of our Sovereign Lady Queen Ann w^ all solemnity; it was debated whether wee shoi hoist our flag, in order to yl more publick solemnizing yl same, by fireing of guns ; on wc_!? it was agreed, yl seeing wee had refused to hoist it att the Govl! request, who sent to us on yl ace*, severall times, ft he might thereby give yl merch*-! to understand yl wee were sattisfyed: though wee struck it in resentml of yl severe imprisonment y 1 wee suffered last year, & of yl robbery committed on yl R. H. Cl goods by yl late Govl & of their goods being seized in all p5? of yl Kings dominions, y * wee had better keep it downe and omitt yl cere- mony of fireing of gunns, w9^ woi have been preposterous without hoisting y 1 fflagg ; & this wee rather consented to, for yl our orders were dispatched to Bombay for her Majesty to be proclaimed there w^t yl utmost solemnity. However wee agreed to proclaim her Majesty yl Sunday following in our Chappie w!J) all possible solemnity, except yl hoisting of our fflagg; w^ had wee hoisted yl Govl wol have required us to have kept it up.

The following declaration was publickly read by yl SecrZ in y 1 Chappie after y« Minister had concluded his Sermon : —

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovereign Lord King William yl third of blessed memory, by whose decease yl Imperial Crowns of England, Scotland, Ffrance & Ireland are solely & rightfully come to y.1 High & Mighty Princess Ann of Denmark, wee the General Presidl & Council for affaires of jr| R*. Hon^? the Govl and Compl of Merch*! of London trading into yl East Indies (as yl Lords spirituall & temporal! of our Realm, being assisted w*J? those of his late Majestys Privy Council &1, numbers of other principal gentlemen of quallity w^ yl Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Citizans of London, have done), do therefore now w*J? one full voice & consent of tongue & heart, publick & proclaim, yl yl High & Mighty Princess Ann is now, by yl death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawfull and rightfull Liege Lady Ann, by yl Grace of God Queen of England, Scotl, Ffrance & Ireland, defender of yl ffaith &c*, to whom wee do acknowledge all ffaith & constant obediance; w*^ all hearty & humble affections, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless y ° Royall Queen Ann w*if long and happy years to reign over us.

JNO GAYER.

STEPHEN COLT. WM MILDMAY, E. BEND ALL.

Seel. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt yl 23^. Decl 1702.

This morning Chellabey came to us from y° GovJL & used abundance of arguments to persuade us to hoist our flagg ; to w$ wee answered ft wee struck it to manifest our resentments to yl whole towne of yl manifold injureys wee had suffered by yl mall ad- ministration of yl late Govl ;& seeing our goods seized by him was still in Abdull Guffores house & not like to be restored to us, & yl yl present Gov* had not complyed w*?) his contract in giving us a place to coin our silver in yl Tanksall, nor did not permitt our people to go on boardship & to Swalley without leave as formerley, wee could not hoist it without

SURAT DIARIES. 245

being laughed at by y* whole towne. Afterwards he used abundance of other arguments to persuade us to complyance, urging y*. the present Govl. wod, as soon as he omild, comply w* all that he had promised us, though he was forced a while to forbear, f<>r y jj lie was traduced att Court for shewing us so much kindness : he also added y* y.°. injuries yi had been done us was by y.1 former Govl. v?'± this could not helpe ; notwithstanding wee did not consent to hoist the fflagg, but told him when our ships arrived from England wee sho* then see w*. orders wee had from yJL R. H. C.2., wil1 w?^ he was dismissed.

JX°. GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. WM MILDMAY, E. BENDALL

Seciz. B. WYCHE.

Att a Consultation held in Suratt y« 28^ Dec! 1702.

Me.. Rob! Bartlett who came out of England Doctor of yl " Prosperous," wcJi ship was run away wi* by pyrates att Madagascar, coming privately by way of Swalley from on board y • sloop w^l yl. Gov : seized (whereby he escaped yl. misfortune w£l? yl rest of his companions fell into of being imprisoned) offered his service to us. And for as much as yl island of Bombay is destitute of a Physetian by yl death of DocI Skinner, & yl island very sickley, & a great many poor people & souldiers leying in danger of perishing for want of yl helpe & advice of a Doctor, wee resolved to entertain him in said station, allowing him four pound per month to be paid in Xl att 20A to yi Xl according to yl custome of yl island ; & y£. same allowance for his diett as Doc I Skinner was allowed, w^ yl usuall assistance belonging to y • llospitall, leaving it to his own choice whether his time shoi commence here or att his arrivall att Bombay, w!^ this proviso, y*. if it commences here, then he is to bare his own charges downe, but if not till he is arrived upon yl island, then his charges shoi be borne by yl Compi ; but he being destitute of money and ffriends, wee agreed to lend him eighty rupl to supply himselfe wi^ necessarys, w?k money wee order yl Deputy Govl. &c£ to deduct out of his wages ; & yl island being in great necessity wee gave him orders to prepare himselfe to go over land wi^ all speed.

There being a great mortallity upon y 1 island amongst y £ English as well as the Natives, wee were willing to incourage all people yi offered their service to us ; & entertained Henry Chritchlow as Boatswaine of y 1 Bunder att Bombay att y * usuall pay y* others have had before.

Mahmud Ffassell requested of us yl liberty of building a Groab at our Bunder, promising to give us an obligation to make good y 1 ground w5j^ shoi be dug away in yl building of said Groab, whose request was granted.

JN9. GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. W" MILDMAY, E. BENDALL.

SecEX. B. WYCHE.

Suratt, DeCL 81*L 1702.

Present the HonM? Sr_ Nicholas Waite, KnE_, Publick Minister and Consull Gen'J^ Will™ Proby, & Jeremy Bonnell JunL. B 1255—62

246

SUBAT DIARIES.

The President acquainted yL Oouncill he had reel, a paper from Cap*.. Abram Jackson, giveing an ace1! of such druggs he desires may be bought for his cargoe, w!*1 yL prizes in England, & what is demanded here in manner following : — ■

	Price here.	rnme cose ana an charges to England.	Price in England.
	Rups	£.	s.	d.	s. d.
Bdellium	4 .	. 8	1	0 ..	5 to 16	per lb.
Nux Vomica	3 .	. 3	4	9 ..	5 to 4	per lb.
Senna ...	... ••• 5	.. 5	17	4 ..	. 11-4 to 6-16 per lb
Gum dragon	4 .	. 3	7	6 ..	. 5-10 to 6 per lb.
S. armoniack	10 .	. 7	9	6 ..	8 to 16	»
Jallop ...	10 .	. 9	18	0 ..	18 to 22	!>
Colloquintida	11 .	. 9	0	0 ..	22 to 25	»
Amoniacum	12 .	. 7	15	4 ..	12 to 20	V
Camells Hay	17 .	. 14	2	0 ..	25
Sareocola	10 .	. 7	14	0 ..	. 11-5
Sweet Fennell seed	9 ... 2£ .	. 2	14	0 ..	4

And yl Deal Boards brought in yl. "Arabia Merchant " ordered yL 26*iL insi. to be made into chests, for yL Olibanum.1 & other druggs, that should be bought towards ladeing said ship, upon examination since they came ashore find a greater loss to yL Comp?L cutting said boards then buying chests in yL country.

Then a lettL was read dated yL. 16*J? ins*, signed Robert Rigby, saying he wrote yL Pre- sident & Councill yL 2*. ins*_ desireing liberty & a supply of money to provide necessarys' he should want to proceed by yL first opertunity to his native country, writeing therein y? PresidL & Councill was not pleased to grant or allow they had anything to doe wth him but left him to himself, therefore must make yl best provission he could by endeavouring to gett subsistance elsewhere, desireing Cap*_ Abram Jackson, Commander of yL. "Arabia Merchant" supposeing would be yL first shipp dispatcht thence for England, might have an order receiveing him on board as a passenger.

Resolved & unanimously agreed that there be purchas't upon yL advice & request of Cap! Abram Jackson, what quantity procurable of the sevL druggs under mentioned if not to be had cheaper then at the prizes following : —

M?9. Rup^ Nux Vomica ... ... ... ... 3

Gum Dragon ... ... ... 3£

Senna ... ... ... ... ... 10 3£

Sal Armoniack ... ... ... ... 50 9J

Jallop ... ... ... ... ... 3 7

Amoniacum ... ... ... ... 2

Camells Hay ... ... ... ... \ 15

Gum Ellimee ... ... ... ... 10 10

Galbanum ... ... ... ... 3 14

Assefetida ... ... ... ... 200 7

Tincall ... ... ... ... ... 125

Sareocola ... ... ... ... 10

Sweet Fennell seeds ... ... ... ... 60

9 2*

Cap*_ Abram Jackson being present, & agreeing each sortmt. of said drug's may sell to a considerable advance in England, y!_ Warehousekeep1 is directed when receive every parcell of said druggs to desire yi compL^ of said Cap*.. Abram Jackson, weighing off only such as in

SU RAT DIARIES. 247

his opinion & judgemL shall he good in their kind, having no other regard to y«_ sev!), must.-rs in small p*. & paroelLa now hefore us then Cap1 Jackson well skill'd in said comodity's shall advise him to receive, to be garbled and pack't as said Gap*, Jackson shall desire, omitting no time expediteing y8 same for their being chop't & sent on board y8. " Arahia Merch*_."

And that 200 deale hoards be sold Ahdull Goffore at 30 rupL. ... 100, yi_ utmost price pro- curable, & y°_ only person in Suratt that will purchase them, being cheaper selling them & buying chests in y£_ country for packing drugg's &°5 , reserveing all that shall be delivered by Cap*;. Jackson above 200 sold as aforesaid, for packing the assefetida that requires thicker boards then other drugs for preventing y°_ scent penetrateing through y°_ Powder roonie where he's promis't to stow it from y°_ Hold.

And that Ml. Rob*- Rigby, Purser of y?_" Bengali Merchant," left here by Cap*- Oockburn ComandL- of said ship, for seeing delivered yL. sevL goods laded upon said ship in Bengali, for wch ye_ ComandL & said Rigby gave rec*L to y°_ march*** freighters, upon his desire in writeing & verbally now in Councill, Cap*.. Abram Jackson present, has liberty granted taking his passage upon said ship " Arabia Merch*jL," by signing an order to said Coniand ? accordingly, declared now by said Rigby to bee yL. first time hee made any such request to y8.. Presid*__ & Councill, from whom he was acquainted y8_ 2_i ins*, sitting then in Councill that they had no authority or power from ye_ Hon1?!? English Company lending out any sume or sumes of money, but what was immediately for provideing goods, or perticularly directed by them.

NIC WAITE. W* PROBY. EDMD CROWE, JEREMIAH BONNELL, Junl.

SecS.

January	1703.
A list of the Ri Hon^f Companys Servants	in Suratt :—
Si John Gayer, Kn*, Generall.
Hon"8 Stephen Colt, President.
Worspl? Ephraim Bendall.
Ml Bernard Wyche, Accompti & Purser Marine	*
Ml Epiphanius Holland, Chaplain.
Wills, Mildmay, Sec2		1
M-l W™ Brooke, Warehousekeeper.
M-I Richard Johnson, Under Warehousekeeper.	> Sen L. Factors
Ml John Brangwin, Steward.		1
jjesirs Phillip Blower.	■*	1
„ Robl Swynfen.		[> Jun J. Factors
„ Tho* Wilshere.
„ John Thorburn.	j
„ Thol Barnardiston.	1
M2!2E? Charles Peachey.	*
„ We? Phipps.		•
„ Joseph Jackson. „ ThoL Wright.		■ Writers.
„ ThoL Sutton.
. „ John HiU.
Ml Dan^ Waldo, Doctor.	md

248 SUIiAT DIARIES.

At a Consultation held in Suratt yi 29* January 1702-3.

Wee consented y t Ml W21 Moore shoi. be made Lieu *. of the third Company of Guards upon Bombay, & y! Generall sent him yS, following Commission : —

Si John Gayer, Kn!, Gen* of India &cii for affaires of theR! Honol^ Gov?L & Company of Merchtsr of London trading into y!. East Indies, Gov! of her Maj*^ Castle and Island of Bombay.

By virtue of y! authority given unto mee by y! Commission I weare from y! R! Hon^i yl.Gov! and Com * of Merch*! of London trading into y! East Indies, in conformity to y!. Charters & Lett!! Pattens of y r. late Maj*!? King William & Queen Mary of blessed memory & yL Royall predecess™, I do (#*£ consent & advice of my Councill) constitute & appoint y*. W2. Moore Gen! to be Lieu! of y! third Comp! of sould™ in y« Castle & Garrison of Bombay, giving you full power to traine, exercise, & conduct, lead & bring y™ together according to Martial! Decipline, as Lieu! of said Comp*, willing, & requiring all inferior officers in said Comp* to obey y£. as oL. Lieu*,. You are likewise to observe and follow such ordEl & commands as yJL shall from time to time receive from myself or from my respective Deputy GovL at presi constituted, or after to be constituted. Given under my hand, & sealed w* y! R. H. Comp! seal in Surat, y! 29th, day of January in y± first year of her Maj^f reigne of England, Scotland, Ffrance, & Ireland, Queen, Defender of y! ffaith &c! Anno Dom. One thousand seaven hundred two & three.

There being a universall report spred, & wrote from all parts y * a strong army of y± Marattas consisting of thirty thousand horse besides ffoot are resolved to assault & plund! y! citty, wee agreed w*. all possible speed to get into y4 ffactory y • ffollowing quantity of provisions, powdil, lead, & ball, and w.L elce necessary for y! defence of y! ffactory, & to entertain M_L Henry Chritchlow as Serj! & tenn Europeans more as souldr!.

160 Mds : of Rice & graine.

2 Mds : small shott. 90 Iron shott. 26 Hand Granadoes. 10 Mds : Powder.

The King having conferred an additionall honol. upon y!_ Gov!. & his son by advancing y_* pay, wee sent a complement to y?L by Venwallidass, & presented y_l Gov!, w* one of those China women y*. was bo*, y! 20* Sep!. 1701 in part of a present designed to be made y!_ Prince at Ahmadavad, w*. cost sixty rupil.

JNO GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL.

7	„ Bisket.
20 13 ,	, Oyle, , Ghee.
9 , 1	, Sugar. , Candles.

Suratt, Ffeb% 5'*, 1702

3 •

This day was confirmed ye_ Savagees Army consisting of 20000 men was come w*in four course of Suratt, made ye_ inhabitants of y<L citty as well as y% European ffactory's upon their guard, the Consull directing 16 men well armed from on board the "Albemarle," entertaining what English & other's lived in y<L citty, w*£ y% "Prosperous" men releast this day out of prison

SURAT DIARIES. |0

& the gentlE of the ffactory appearing all in arms, putts us in a good posture of defence against auy attempt yi. Sevagees may cassually make upon possessing themselves of y! citty.

EDMD CROWE,

Secry.

Suratt, Ffeby 7*, 1702

3 This morning the President & Councill dispatch't Cap*L Jackson, directing ML Jol Good- ehaw accompanying him on hoard for delivering his dispatches, w*{' the Comp'f packett, bagg of private letters &2?

And this day y% Sevagees began plundering & burning part of the suburbs.

EDM» CROWE,

Secr_y

At a Consultation held in Surat y«. 7th Ffeb!? 1702-3.

The Sevagees having sett all y± villages on ffire yJL were to y! eastward of yJ*. citty,

every one was apprehensive yi. citty woA be in great danger of being destroyed. Wee put y±

ffactory into the best posture of defence possibly wee could, but fearing wee shofl not be able

to w^stand y^ assaults of soe numerous an enemie w*i? ye small numbr of Europeans y * wee

had in y * ffactory, & hearing y .*_ Sr Nicho8 Waite had a very large supply of men from y«

besides y* twenty odd men y*. had been kept prisoner" by y* Governm*. & now

released & sent to him, wee agreed to send M * Mildmay to him to desire y * he would spare

us tenn Englishmen for to assist us. He returned us answer by M r. Crow yX he could not let

us have any men, but if y • ffactory sho4 be in danger, upon y » least signall given, he wol

send a p.ty of his men to our assist!, and if at last wee should be forced to quit our ffactory,

his & w * vessells he had sho i\ be ready to receive & protect us, for v/2^. complem ;. wee

returned him thanks ; & then resolved (seeing wee had neither ship or other vessell to assist

us on any occasion) to hire thirty of y ° best peons y.* wee could get to assist us in defence of

y 1 ffactory.

JN1 GAYER.

STEPHEN" COLT.

E. BEND ALL.

Suratt, Ffeby V± ,1702^ 3 o'clock

3 Post Meridiem.

I Present the Hon"8 SlL Nicholas Waite, Kn*_, Publick Minister & Condi Gen" f Will? Proby & Jeremy Bonnell. The President informed the Councell that y* 3r^ ins*. Cap*,. Will.; Beawes upon the various assertions that v*. Savagee was drawing near, offered to send for what men he pleased a shore for defending the ffactory, but noe army appearing, & one of ye, CompMr sloop's being ordered downe y°. 6* to carry Cap*L Jackson on board his ship the " Arabia Merchant " lyeing in Swalley , vth or(iers for his immediate sayleing for England, desired CapL Beawes would send an order downe to his Cheife Mate, or officer then on board his ship, & y<L master of the sloop should deliver itt, for sending up some men for ye. service of y! ffactory, for preventing any assault

250 SUBAT DIARIES.

that might be made by the Savagee, or whatever army should possess themselves of the citty, came yesterday 16 men in their barge, or Pinnace armed, the same evening called over by name & listed, & this day Cap! Beawes having occassion for said men commanded them out of the ffactory wihout knowledge of the President that would not have denyed their going upon y«L service of the ship, and their being as yet no order signed for commanding said men ashore pursuant to Charterparty, that there be now an order signed for said men comeing ashore, and being continued for yl security & defence of the ffactory, allowing of them what victualls & drink is necessary w* such a gratuity as their service & behaviour may intytle them to.

Resolved & unanimously agreed that there be an order now signed to Cap! Will™ Beawes, Commander of Ship " Albemarle," to send ashore immediately sixteen men, that are at all times to be ready as occassion shall require wil? y!L sciff & boates of y*. said ship, or other- wise to serve the HonM? English Company, their ffactor's or assignees to, from, & upon land, to continue so long as the imergency of affaires may require their service, allowing them necessary drink & provisions, w!^ such a gratuity as their service and behaviour may intytle them to.

And that there be allowed a quart of Arack to every merchant & ffactor in the ffactory & a pint to every writer each 24 hours w^1 sugar & lime juce proportionable, in leiu of wyne.

And that yi, yatch's receive what sayles, cask &£? Capt Beawes shall putt on board them from Vinbra.

N. WAITE. EDMP. CROWE, WM PROBY.

Sees. JEREMIAH BONNELL, JunL

Suratt, FfebrJ 9^, 1702

Cap! Will!? Beawes. You having by direction of yl President sent for sixteen men part of yl ships Company ashore, for yl defence and security of our ffactory, pursuant to yoL Charterparty w!!1 y? jjonWe Engl5_ ComplL directing at all times to be ready as occassion shall require, w*P yoL sciff and boates to serve y£ said Compa their ffactor's or assignees upon land, said sixteen men w^ their armes are now to continue soe long in our ffactory as the imergency of affaires may require for their service, & this shall be yoL warrant from

YoL lovf fri* " N. WAITE. WM PROBY. JEREMY BONNELL, Junr_

Suratt, FfebrJ 10*, 1702_

3 Present the Hon^3 -S*. Nicholas Waite, Kn*., Publick Minister & Consull Gen", Will™ Proby, & Jeremy Bonnell.

The citty having bin for some day's alarmed by the Savagees approach near yer suburbs, for this 2 or 3 nights sett on fire by them & y£, Gov^ induced all y? ffactory's keeping a strick't watch w*!1 such European's & others as they could procure for secureing themselves

SUlt AT DIARIES. 251

either against the S&vageee, if enter y° citty, or the Muscatt Arah's if secure a gate in the towne, y* President devideing all the Comp?i serv*! with the "Prosperous" men, and others into two Company's, upon this occassion appointing

Wffl« Prohy, Grst Cap1..

Will™ Beawes being ashore for the better incourageing both of his & other seafareing men in y°_ ffactory, second CapL.

Jeremy Bonnell, Cap*. Lieu*_ .. . ... ... \

John Lock, Lieut ... ... ... ... f _ .

Callow Cary ..." VEnsignes.

Will"! Martin .../

was delivered a paper into ye. President signed by all y* writers, except Tho'^ Patten & Edward Morris, declareing their resolutions not to stand sentinells or doe further duty then yi merchM8 and ffactors, when in every ffactory at this juncture no difference can possibly be made, w^out omitting keeping those necessary watches as yi. security of our ffactory requires, and all the Senr_ as well merch^f as ffactors willingly performing what is injoyned them for y% preservation of it, all y°. young men signing y«. aforesaid paper was sent for by the Presi- dent, & examined one by one, who persisting in their frail resolution, occasioned y°_ seafare- ing men shewing an unwillingness to have all y°. burden of standing sentinells upon them, Henry Coster, John Frost, \Y ill1?! Nowell, James Love, Joseph Oakley, & Thomas Moore, that appeared by their talking to be ye- principall actors & stirrers up of this discord that might occassion a mutiny to y*n indangering y«t loss of the ffactory, was committed to y% Court of Guard all night, & Joseph Oakley bound for behaveing himself more untowardly then the others.

Resolved & unanimously agreed that Hen*? Coster, John Frost, Will™ Nowell, James Love, Joseph Oakley, & Thoi Moore be now sent for before the Presid*. & Councill, ye Presidi acquainting them of their duty, & that there was no more required of them then what had daily bin performed by all the Sen1! & others in every ffactory in Suratt, the stress of watching principally lying upon yL Councill, merchants & ffactors, comeing not to their turn standing sentinell above 2 hours in 24 ; Henry Coster, John Frost, Will1" Nowell, & Tho8-- Moore submitting & declareing they was willing to doe anything for jri_ security of the ffactory as they should be commanded by such as was appointed over them was dismist, & Joseph Oakley & James Love continuing their former determination, are hereby discharged the Comp^ service, and immediately expell'd the ffactory, w£|j example induced y^_. rest of y«_ writers begging pardon, offering a punctuall complyance w*.!| such orders as shall from time to time be given them for y% defence & security of the ffactory.

And it being represented yi watching all night in the great dew's that fell, & all y!_ officers not having cloth coates, there be given to

Cap*. Will™ Proby CapL Will™ Beawes Cap*_ -Lieu*.. Bonnell Leiut*-. Locke

each 3£ yri? of scarlett, or crimson cloth for making them coates, the Warehousekeeper to cutt ps_ N°_- A, & deliver them for their greater incouragement.

N. WAITE, EDMP CROWE, WILL?1 PROBY,

Secff. JEREMIAH BONNELL, Junr .

252 SURAT DIARIES.

Suratt, FfebrJL 18*, 1702^

3

This morning Ml Goodshaw advised, Cap! Jackson sayled from the rivers mouth yesterday in yl. evening, making no exceptions in Bill of Ladeing for any parcell short roc1* saying, had pursuant to his orders from yl Preside & Councill, transmitted said Bill of Ladeing to yl Court of Directors.

Since yl 7!!* insi- in yl morning yl Savagees has bin plundering and burning y« suburbs, amongst w5^ was Rustumjees our Cheif Brokers house burnt to y% ground. EDM» CROWE,

SecE?

At a Consultation held in Surat y_e: 14th Ffebr.y 1702-3.

The Sevajee being disappointed of his hopes of plundering, & destroying y ' citty by yl continuall ffiring of y_l great guns from y* walls night. & day, & some of his principall officers being killed, and severall of his spys taken, began to wihdraw his army, plundering, burning and destroying all townes and villages round yl same. His army being spred so farr about, wee have not had any certain information of wl numbiL it consisted, but its reported of seaven thousand horse & three thousand ffoot, & being informed yl he designes to take his way towards Ahmadabad & destroy all places as he goes along, wee sent y_l ffollowing order to MJL Brooke : —

Wee presume you have long ere yl been advised of yl Sevajees approach towards y_l citty, against w2^ he having not effected anything, hath caused him to plunder & burne almost all yl villages round abJL it, and now wee hear he designes for Broach &cl places in his way to Ahmadavad w* yl might reasonably expect, y^fore wee hope you have taken y» utmost care to secure y^ R. H. Comp JL goods at all places of investment, & y * you have not put out any to washing, but if yl have & yJL yl reacheth you time enough, get all in again, & order wi you thinke necessary for y •. security of all, & send on none out again till you hear further from us.

19%. — Ordered yiL pay mi: of sixty -two rupjL thirty-six pice for one months wages to yl Tindall & Lascars belonging to yl country -boate 62-36.

2lsL — Ml W™ Brooke having mett w^ our ord™ dispatched to him yl 14th instl in his returne home, & sent it forward to yl severall places where he had put cloth out to washing, wee ordered Venwallidass to write to all yl. Breakers to put all yl cloth out again, and to make all yl dispatch they could in geting it whitened & sent downe to us, being informed y.* Sevajee army is gone another way; ordered likewise yjL yl Cummervalees &cl cloth y.« washer-men brought wett into yl. ffactory at yl beginning of these troubles be all put out again to washing.

25%.. — Wee mett to considi. what had best to be done in relation to y 1 Commision sent us out by yl. High Court of Admiralty, & being sencible of y.% great prejudice it might doe yJL nation by executing of it in this place, where wee have for so many years layne under yl scan- dall of pyracy, and now at last in a manner to prove ourselves to be soe, made us very cautious how wee went about it ; but upon thorough examination of y % Commision, wee found wee could no ways avoid it, let wi_ would be y_l consequence, so wee resolved to give yl. Armenians notice y_L y 1 next day wee would meet and put yli same in execution.

JNO GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL.

80 BAT VI ABIES. 203

Suratt, Ffebrv 17lh , 1702_

3

Present the Hon1;!? Sl Nicholas Waite, Kn*., Public Minister & Consull Gen1^, Will? Proby, & Jeremy BonnelL

The President says be was informed by ft Brokers that there was 75 large bales of p*, goods from the sev" townes of manufactun', wUl 70 odd bales of Licks come to Broach, other might daily be expected there, not possible to be brought by land, now y!L Savagee lyes betwixt said place by sea, yc IHitcli baying lately ordered two of their sloops going thyther for 300 & odd bales belonging to their Company.

Resolved <fc unanimously agreed that y*, "Sara'i & Mary" Yatch, having her complemV of Englishmen on board, wUl four Porteguise, four Lasscarrs, & a Tindall, sayle immediately away for Broach, taking a country boat along w^1 her for receiveing all such bale goods as shall there be loaden upon them, for ace*! of the Hon'i6 Company, returning w!L^ yL utmost expedition, keep- ing said country boat alwayes under her command for secureing such part of the Compel estate as shall be on board her, ye; Brokers standing oblidged that if there should not be sufficient bale goods for loading said Boat, yl Company pay but half freight, directing y^_ Master of ye, ** Sam!J & Mary " when arrive at Broach flinging oat his ballast, or anything that may impead his bringing what bale goods possible, & if said goods are not ready as asserted by y!_ Brokers, that he stay not for his being loaded above 24 hours, & y%_ charges putt to their acctL

And that M£. James Love & Joseph Oakley dismist the Comp^? service the 10*^ insl. for reasons in said Consultation (upon their submission & acknowledgem*. of their error in writeing, promiseing amendm*, & not to be guilty of ye.. like folly for y°_ future) be now called into yl ffactory, & entertained in their former stations in y* Compel business.

NIC : WAITE. EDMB CROWE, WILL** PROBY.

SecrZ_ JEREMIAH BONNEL, JunL.

Suratt, Ffebrl 18^ 1702

3 This morning had information of y?. Savagees army being removed 20 Course from the citty after burning y? suburbs, & getting what plunder they found w!Mn a course or two of Suratt.

EDM?. CROWE, Secy.

Suratt, Ffebtl 20% 1702_

3

This evening was informed Nasarula Cawn w^L 5000 horse, sent by the ErapL to releive Suratt upon advice of y? Savagees beseigeing said place, was come w** in 2 Course, where he lyes encampt waiteing the Mogulls orders.

And the Savagee still withdrawing further from yl citty induces yt Banians & others going to their sev'*. homes, & removeing what goods &2L they had lodged in y<L sev^i. Euro- pean ffactorys.

EDMg CROWE, Sec1?:

b 1255-64

254 SURAT DIARIES.

Suratt, FfebZL 22.<L, 1702

3 This evening Ml Samuell Dudley Steward of yL_ Ffactory, dyed of the small-pox, after being afflicted w*| said distemper six days, y«- Preside immediately directing Mess™ Jeremy Bonnell, Joseph Goodshaw, EdmjJ Crowe & Timothy Allestree sealeing up his papers, & what else was in his roome till after his funerall, then taking an exact & perticular ace**, of all his Liquor's, apparell &*} belonging to him, for being disposed off in 3 or 4 days for his ace** at Publick outcry, deferring a further inspection of his papers and ace*? till after y« departure of yS. " Albemarle," when shall be more at leisure.

EDM" CROWE,

SecEZ

Suratt, Ffebr'Jr U%* 170^

3 Present the Hon"? SL_ Nicholas Waite, Kn*., Public Minister & Consull Gen^L, Wills Proby, & Jeremy Bonnell.

The President delivered in the following paper :

Gentle

The Savagees people having ravish't yE, country, and bin encampt plundering & burning about this citty upward of ffifteen days impeaded all manner of business, not any measures of Lasscarrs to be hyr'd for garbleing or imbailing goods, no dispatch at y!_ Custome house has detarded our ladeing y« M Albemarle " so soon as wee determined, & have wrote the Comp?: & the enemy -being gone, y° Englishmen belonging to Cap*.. Beawes as well as those hyred for secure- ing yi- ffactory, was w*Ji yoE concurrance discharged the 19* ins*.. , paying each alike as at first you desired me to promise them for preventing disturbance. There remaines Ml Bassett that has- upon all occassions bin servicable, & perticularly in this troublesome juncture will I beleive justly require a suitable gratuity, indeed yfi_ Sen8, of the ffactory, y* ffactors & other yL. Compel. serv*J performed their part, taking their turns watching night & day to yl impair- ing many of their healths, amongst w^1 Mr. Samuell Dudley ffactor & steward was seized w*Jl a ffeaver the 16*^ insL turned to y?_ small-pox, of w^ he dyed y*_ 23iL ins*_ intestate.

And my great indisposition that you know has bin some days upon me prevented that evening Dudley dyed a regular Consultation for ordering his matters, you verbally then agree- ing w1^. me that you Ml_ Bonnell w*A. y* Sec1!, ML. Goodshaw, and ML. Allestree should that night after the corps was removed into another roome, seal up yi_ doors of the Chamber where Dudley departed, and bury him the next day, inviteing the cheifest and most intimate of his acquaintance, giveing them scarf es as customary, w?} I am informed has bin managed with y£ utmost frugality.

It will be necessary that those Gentl » aforesaid immediately take a perticular ace** of all goods, wynes, arack they can find in or out of the ffactory belonging to yL. deceased, w*> what may be in his chamber, scheduleing yf_ same for being speedily disposed and sold by publick outcry, Mess1^ Goodshaw, Crow, and Allestree inspecting all his acc*±8 and papers for their better settleing his concerns w*Jl such persons he had dealings w*ij_, delivering their report into Coun- cil!, where all demands upon him ought to be registered, or allowed for satisfaction of his friili and y«L nett estate paid into yi_ Comp*L cash.

SURAT DIARIES. 255

And having Considered of a proper person to offitiate as Steward till yl_ next years ship- ping when .ill matters will be under direction of 1 1 1 * - United stocks, is a place of trust that requires dilligence, ami such ffaotors whose behaviour ought to have said imploym*.. being rather inclyned improveing themselves in aectu for being proffitients serveing the Company as merchants, must reoomend M r Edward Jarry Surgeon, you all know a sober dilligent man, if he'l accept it, & may not interfear for not performing yl_care and duty of his imploym A., in w£t should he be found remiss, then to apoint some other person.

Was then read a letter dated yi_ 2'VL ins*- signed Callow Cary, wherein he declares that he had formerly desired leave to goe home yl_ country not agreeing w*^. his constitution, & by y e death of his ffather his concerns left him may suffer for want of his being there, desires liberty taking his passage upon the " Albemarle. "

And the Brokers making their report now in Councill that they could not procure y*_ pepper sold by ye,. Dutch under 6 nip8- per maund, their Brokers w^L other merchants having engrost it all, one of w& merchants being called in, after some debate at last brol_ them to

5 Rup3_ 15 aim. wil? yJL usuall allowance for G000 maunds free from damage, all w£j» being maturely considered,

Resolved & unanimously agreed that after y%- rate of sixteen rupl. per month besides dyett was promist by us the President & Councill as well to CapL_ Beawes men as others hyred for yl service of yL. ffactory, directed to be allowed, & paid them yl_ 20th insi. , then dismist.

And that there be paid to Ensigne JnJL Bassett for his trouble & service upon sev" occasions before as well as in this exegency tenn pounds, or eighty rupees, being a sober stout man, & for incouraging his readiness upon any of the like occassions in service to yl. ffactory.

And that Mil Jeremy Bonnell assisted by Mess!!. Jos Goodshaw, Edmond Crow, & Timothy Allestree, take an acclL this day of all goods, wyne, arack, they can find in or out of yfL ffactory belonging to y!_ deceased, w!JL what may be in his chamber, scheduleing y£_same to be sold by Publick outcry on Saturday the 27th insl_ after dinner, sealing up all his books

6 papers vv^L their sevll Seales to remaine in charge of yer Sec^L till y%_ "Albemarles" dis- patch't, when Mess!!. Goodshaw, Crow, and Allestree are to inspect all his books and papers, w11' what demands may be upon him, reporting the same in Councill, what has bin expend- ed upon his funerall be perticularly stated, & y°; nett produce of his estate paid into y!_ Comp?5_ cash.

And that Ml Edward Jarry be appointed Steward taking charge of all the Compa3_ plate. ffaithfully performing all other matters incumbent upon said imployment, till y£_ " Albemarle" be dispatch't, and then come to such a resolution as may be agreeable wth. the Comp8! interest.

And that ML. Callow Carys request for going home by ship "Albemarle" be granted, yl. Accomptant directing his acc!L of sallary to be made up to y?_ last of this month, from w?Jl time is discharged yl_ Comp1^ service.

And that six thousand maund of Pepper be now bought, paying five rupees ffifteen annas each maund wl1! y£_ customary allowance, free from any damage, w?lL the Warehouse keeper is to take care seeing weighed, sending for CapL. Beawes purser, or who else he'l appoint

256 SURAT DIARIES.

attending, to see said pepper weighed, y"L Commander being alwayes oblidged signeing to yJS weight.

EDM? CROWE, NIC. WAITE.

SecEZ. W» PROBY.

JEREMIAH BONNEL, JunJ

Suratt, F/ebrl 2A%, 1702,

Yesterday in the evening was intered y!L corps of ML SaimL Dudley, y?_ GentL2 of the ffactory and others his acquaintance that was invited having scarfes, as usuall in those parts upon yl like occassions.

EDM?. CROWE,

Sec!?.

Suratt, F/eb1! 27%, 1702

3

Present the Hon^ Sl Nicholas Waite, Kn^ , Publick Minister & Consull Gen1!,, Will™ Proby, and Jeremy Bonnell.

The President informed that this day after dinner was appointed for y|_ sale of Mr Dudleys goods, liquor's &c__, by publick outcry and ye_ Compi_ having no arack in their ffactory, & none in towne, or expected this year from Goa, and little wyne in the seller, besides yl_ remaines of tenn chests of Syrash, bought of Mr_ Will!IL_ Mildmay and SamL Dudley at 34 rupJL a chest, and none expected from Persia unless please God y4_ "Susanna" arrive, will be necessary buying half a score chests of English Syrash & a lott or two of y*L Goa arack for y± use of yi- ffactory.

Resolved & unanimously agreed that there be boui_ for the use of ye_ ffactory tenn chests, or one lott of English Syrash, six Butt's, & one lott of Goa arack, for w* Ml_ Dudley to have creditt in his acrfl in y!!_ GenlL Books.

EDM° CROWE, NIC. WAITE.

Sec%. W m PROBY.

JEREMIAH BONNEL, JunL .

Suratt, March 4%, 1702

3

Present the Hon"? Sl. Nicholas Waite, Knt_, Publick Minister & Consull Genii, Will_5 Proby, and Jeremy Bonnell.

The Brokers made a report that a merchant comeing downe w!JL forces from Amadavad for assisting this Government against the Savagee, offered to buy y%-. eliphant, but would not

SURAT DIARIES. 257

give for her above 1400 rupees, & having not yet bin offered anything for her, and y«. charge upward of 100 rupees a month.

Resolved & unanimously agreed that y*. raerch'_L by name Mahmud Hossom Mogull have yer eliphant delivered him, he paying into y°. Brokers fourteen hundred rupees allow- ing 4 moL rebate according to custome, and Rustumjee debitted for the same, thereby putting an end to that extravagant charge.

NI. WAITE. WM PROBY.

JEREMIAH BONNEL, JunJ. EDM£. CROWE,

SecT-

Suratt, March 22<L, 1702_

3

Present the Hon!^ SL. Nicholas Waite, Knt, Publick Minister & Consull Genii., Will" Proby, & Jeremy Bonnell.

The Brokers pursuant to a resolution of Councill y£_ 1 1 ins4- delivered in the perticulars of the sev1! druggs procurable in towne, w*^ the lowest prizes, such as appeared indifferent good in their kind, agreeable w*Jj the Comp5! orders, proper for Europe vizL: —

Myrrh Fine ... Dl Ord!X... Olibanum Decan Tineall Stick lack Turmerick Culgon Sal Armouiack ... ...

Cambodgia Lapis Tutice ... Spikenard

Mds.	Rb.	a.	p-
18 at	28	0	0
375 „	14	0	0
500 „	2	0	0
75 „	14	0	0
350 „	6	4	0
1200 „	2	10	0
400 „	10	8	0
60 „	15	0	0
150 „	11	0	0
100 „	14	0	0

and there being no larger quantity or sortm*! are informed in towne, after a long debate, compareing the goodness of the sev'L comoditys, and calculateing y!L prizes now in time of warr, may be upon said druggs, & y!_ "Susanna" and "Canterbury " daily expected —

Resolved & unanimously agreed that there be bought and paid for the sev!L druggs lereafter mentioned w^ y*. usuall allowance & rebate

Myrrh Fine ... Di Ord?. ...

Olibanum Decan

Tineall ... ...

Stick lack Turmerick Culgon Sal Armoniack Cambodgia Lapis Tutice b 1255-65

Mds.	Rs.	a.	P»
18 at	26	0	0
375 „	13	6	0
500 „	1	13	0
75 „	13	2	0
350 „	6	0	0
1200 „	2	8	0
400 „	10	1	0
60 „	12	12	0
150 „	9	12	0

268 SURAT DIARIES.

The Warehoufekeepl taking care receiveing the sev'L sorts, according to muster now deliver- ed him, good in their kind, having them all garbled, imbailed, & chested, except the Turme- rick, ready for loading upon yl. " Susanna," and " Canterbury" daily expected, the Accomptant giveing Rustumjee creditt for the quantity rec!L by the Warehousekeeper.

And that there be an order signed for Capl W5L Beawes receiveing on board two boxes of Diamond Boort, ship't by the Hon!ie SL Nicholas Waite mark't No. I S. 1. consigned ML. John Shipman, and N°- S. L. 1. consigned Mr_ Samuell Lock Senior of London.

NIC. WAITE.

TV™ PROBY.

JEREMIAH BONNELL, JunlL..

EDM» CROWE,

SecEZ.

Suratt, March 25%, 1703.

And that a Bond be signed and sealed w^ the small seale of this Presidency to SL Nicholas Waite, for twenty-thousand, seaventy seaven rupees, ffifty pice, advanc't and lent y°. Hon^L6 Comp^ towards paying for pepper, coffee, and other druggs, not to be purchas't w^out ready money payable on arrivall of the first ships, or stock, or on demand, at three quarters per cent per mensam yl accustomed interest for the sums delivered out in manner following —

Jan'T. 27, 1702-3 ... Feb?* 22

Rs.	P-
1,422	14
18,655	36	Rup.
		P-
		20,077	50

Said bond to be entered next this Consultation.

NIC. WAITE.

W^ PROBY.

JEREMIAH BONNELL, Juni. EDM?. CROWE,

Sec!?.

Wee the President & Councill for affaires of ye_. Hon^£ English Comp^ tradeing to y« East Indies, doe hereby acknowledge to have borrowed & reci_ of the Hon^? Si Nich. Waite into yl cash of said Company, twenty thousand, seaventy-seaven rupees, ffifty pice, paid in manner following, recL the twenty seaventh of Jan II last one thousand four hundred, twenty-two rupi. fourteen pice, & y* twenty second of Ffeb'X Eighteen thousand, six hundred, ffifty-five rup!_ thirty-six pice, for w£^. wee promise on yl. behalf of said Compl whom wee hereby oblidge, both their & our successors to pay on yl. arrivall of the first ships

8URAT DIARIES. 289

or stock, or on demand, w* interest at yt rate of three quarters per cent per month, from the

date of both said paym*? unto the aforesaid Sr Nich. Waite or his assignees. Wittness our

hands & yi. small seale of this Presidency, in Suratt this twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand, seaven hundred, and three.

NIC. WAITE. WILL*! PROBY. JEREMY BUNNELL, Jun'..

By order of the Honl^ Presid* and Councill, EDxM^ CROWE,

SecIZ.

At a Consultation held in Suratt y*. 11*^. June 1703.

This after-noon wee rece* yJL R. H. CompJl pacqi from England by y"„ "Regard," by overland conveyance from Bombay ; upon receipt of wch finding a pacq * inclosed directed to y %. Presid*8 and Councills cf both Comp !_ wee sent Wm Mildmay to acquaint Sj[_ Nichi Waite of it, and to desire him to send his Sec1? to see said pacq * and to hear y %. letter read, on w°^ Sj; Nich ■ Waite imediately sent M JL Crow, in whose presence said pacq _*_ was opened (though through mistake wee had broke y*. seal before, but had not looted in ye pacq*) & the lettJL from y* Honoble Mannag™ read; & y" delivered to said MJLCrow to carry to said Si. Nich i Waite and Councill, desireing him to acquaint S_L NichJL &c f- , y * so soon as wee had read over y± Indenture Tripartite between yi. Queen & yJL two Comp_L & Quinque Partite Indenture of conveyance of y e Dead-stock y*. were inclosed in said pacq*. wee wo4- send yHL to him and Councill for y_L perusall.

There being one small pacq * for yJL Ffrench, & two or three for y ■ Dutch, wee sent y"\ by our cheif peon, as directed.

12*. — Wee sent Wm Mildmay to S* Nich-L Waite w*?Lyi_ Quinque Partite Indenture of Conveyance of yi. Dead-stock ; who told us at his return, y* Sr Nichi Waite recei it very slightingly, & told him y* it was of no signification to him ; but if any of his people had a minde to read it out of curosity, they might, and soe gave it into yi hand of M L. Proby, who w*_^ MessEf Lock and Goodshaw was by & seemingly desired to see it. YJL SJT Nich^? Waite said they had rece * no letters or orders from y * Mast!5 & yi letter wl^1 was sent him yesterday came und_£ our cover and by our ship, & he did suppose yl| woi? be yi same in their ships (all leaving England togeathl) undj; y*. cover, and yi directions accordingly ; & till he had rece? those, w*J? orders from his Mast™, he could take no notice of yi sent him by Si Jn° Gayer and Councill. W5? Mildmay seeing him soe indifferent to what he had brought, asked him if he shoi bring his HonoJ y« Indenture Tripartite between y • Queen and y* two CompJ wi the Gen J. &ci had done reading of it. Hee said he might. If he wo %. perhaps some gentlemen in yi ffactory might have yi curosity to read it; & wondered y_* he shoi1. have no letters by this ship, seemingly suspecting y_*_ wee interupted y» ; but desired y._* SiL Jn°; Gayer would write two or

260 SURAT DIARIES.

three words for him to Bombay, & he wo^ send away PattamP on purpose to inquire for letters yJi he might let his mastl? see y£? was nothing of dilligence wanting on his side : w*i such indifferency dismist him.

In complyance to Si Nichi Waites request in yi morning, wee sent him yi following lettl:—

To the RL Worspl Jn<L Burniston, Esqri,

Dep^y Govi and yi Councill of Her Maj*^ Castle & Island of Bombay.

Gent?, The Hono^? Si Nichi. Waite having made application to us for our letti to j%. & CapJ Warner to impowr. y.£ to deliver to yi bearer such lettri as have been brought out on ship " Regard " for himself or Councill & any othi. of y i R L Hon^i English Compi. ffac- tors, wee desire yi on reci of yi yi, will forth w* delivi all such lettri yi y? shall have in yoi custody to said bearer, & y_* y.2 will send for Capi Warner & ordi him to delivi. all such lettL8 as he or any of his ships coinpi may have on boardship to yi foresaid bearer, inclosing all undi a cover to yi aforesaid Hon^ Sj; Nichi. Waite, wi^ a list signifying to wEl they are directed.

Your loving ffriends, JNO GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL.

Sepl. 8lh-., 1703. — Our guards continuing their severity towards us in so barbarous a manner that wee could in no wise persuade y^ to lett us have yi» least mouthfull of refreshm * , our pro- visions being almost spent & our men begining to fall sick & not able to eat wJ wee had, by

reason wee were forced to make use of Salt Petre to preserve yi. instead of salt, it was

resolved to fling over yTe. following letter to y°. chief of yi guard for him to carry it to yi GoviL :—

To yi Noble Ettabar Caun.

SL, You cannot but be senceible that y • Old Comp % setled their ffactory in this city by virtue of yi. Empii PhymJ1. , wl^ granted that their serv*8 shoi carry on their trade without being molested, notwithstanding w$ though wee have done no manner of wrong or injury to any of yi subjects of yi Einpl or any other person wi soever, your guards have surrounded our ffactory to prevent us being supplyed w^ w^. soever is necessary for yi support of life, so yi, wee, our women and children must inevitably perish except you are pleased to relax your orders.

Therefore wee desire that you will take y% premises into your consideration & order y_* wee may be allowed victuals, yi use of our serv*8, & such other necessarys as wee want for our support ; for yi. wee have no designe to injure any one or to desert yi, ffactory, as it may be falsely suggested to you, as it is that Abdull Goff ores ship is taken by one yi came out from Bombay, w^ falsehood may soon be proved if letters were wrote to any Moormen inhabiting there, or to yi Portiguess near that place.

Wee hope & humbly desire you will grant this our reasonable request in consideration of our innocency, for w^ wee shall remain, S.E , yoi very humble Servif,

JNO GAYER. STEP. COLT.

SURAT DIARIES, 2C1

Wee likewise resolved to send y^ following letter to Si. NichJ? Waite and Council by a private conveys? out of y% ffactory, by way of y ° Ffrench Padrees. After y« usuall title. GentJ?, You cannot but be senceible of y?, great oppression wee & our Brokers undergo from this Goverm*- though wholly innocent of wJ: they charge us wi_h & w«j) they pretend to oppress us for, is, as they say, that Abdull Goffores ship is taken by y • " Regard," w«h is notoriously untrue as might soon be proved if yJL Gov.! would permitt of letters being sent to Bombay and other places near it & that answer might be returned.

Now considering you esteem us bretheren and yl yl IIonbl° Directors of yl. Honw? English Comp* have wrote you to be assisting to us if at any time oppressed by y* Govermi, wee desire y* you will use your interest w*J? said Goverm± to relax or remove their inhumane severity wi? w?l wee are so unjustly afflicted.

Gen *. : Your very loving ff r<)? and humble Serv % Signed by all y± Council.

9%. — Si, Nichi. Waite and Council sent y 1 following answ.1 after yl. usuall title was wrote :

Genti, Wee having most sincerely engaged our tho* from the first day of your affliction ap- pearing for you, had not our Broker been for several days imprisoned w!t yours and others ; not materiall telling you yl, ways and means taken for his release, since w^ could not have evinced yl world our being heartily yl. bretheren had S_L NichJL Waite awaited y4_ recJr of any desire

from you that came just now to our hands of yesterdays date, Rustumjee waiting day

morning on y± GovJL & had his answer that night he wof_ permitt provisions going into your ffactory, yesterday morning detarded wee are told (by yJL unhappy news of Cossonbys ship taken near Verseve on this side Bombay) till this morning for having yl. advice of yl. Kings Ministers and Merch**, unto whom wee neither have or shall omitt yi minutest part of true friends yJL heartily commits you, your Ladys and all will you to Divine protection.

Wee are, Gent-E, yoJL very loving ffrf^ and humble Serv*,

N. WAITE. WM PROBY. JER. BONNEL, JunJL

SepJL 12^. — The Govr. after he had rece?l our letter ordered y*. wee should have four days provisions allowed us, and wee hear he gave yl. Dutch y° same liberty.

2#fc. — The four days being expired wee applyed ourselves again to the Gov.! for more provisions, who granted us daily a small quantity just to keep us alive.

17^ — S L Nichi. Waite hoisted his flagg upon his house, notwithstanding yJL miserable circumstances yl- Dutch and wee ley under, W2^ was an addition to our misery to see yJL Union ffla"g fley so near us without any hopes of assistance from those that presume to wear it.

igth_ t — "Wee heard that J* Gov I had committed Kisso and Vittal Parack, Venwally and

yJL two Dutch Brokers to yJLCattwals common prison after he had extorted seaven lack of rupJL

from them, because they refused to give security for their appearance in case he should have

any further demands upon them.

JN° GAYER.

STEPHEN COLT.

E. BENDALL.

b 1255—66

262 SURAT DIARIES,

Suratt, Nov^ 22L, 1703.

This morning was informed the " Aurungzeb" in service of ys_ old Comp^sayled y %. 20^ ins*- for Bombay, and thence designed to England.

And about noone was brought to the ffactory from on board the " Howland ", whatt letters said ship broi, for R_ John Gayer &c!_, w£^ y% Consull immediately conveyed as S*_ Jn2- desired by way of a Ffrench Padree.

And att the same time was informed that two of the Dutch Ships cruizeing bro*^ in an Arab, being told they have determined stopping all vessells coming into this port.

Suratt, Novt 25% 1703.

Since the 221. insL. arrived another Arab ship, w?i y£_ Dutch likewise detained comeing into this port, impeading their unloading any part of their Cargos, except horses, one bringing 90, y4 other 40.

And yesterday y^ Dutch permitted y!_ Siddees meet of boates going to Dundarojopore w^ provision &ct to y!L Mogulls Armada at said place.

To the Noble Etburt Cawn GovlL of Suratt,

The Hon™! SlL Nicholas Waite, Knt, Publick Minister, & Consull Gen1^. to the most illus- trious great Queen Ann of England, Scottland, Ff ranee & Ireland, &c%, in whose name have often desired, w$ doe now renew, that you'l permitt Pylotts carrying safely downe this river over the Barr, y!L ships "Susanna" Cap!. WillSL Ingledew, and the "Buckhurst," CapL Edward Say, subjects to her said Maj*|f, for better inableing each of them prosecuting their severall voyages. In Suratt y2_ 1«* December 1703.

Suratt, BedL. 8lJL, 1703.

This day Rustumjee assured the Preside that letters from Court advised the present Govr_ was turned out and one related to the EmpL. plac't in his roome, & a Serpaw or vestml accord- ingly ordered him, being J*, usuall confirmation of any perfermt. in this country.

Suratt, DeCL 9% 1703. Notwithstanding the Princes order to his fforces lyeing near this citty immediately remove- ing to Amadavad, was last night countermanded & further directed tarrying about this place, in case the Savagee should vissitt itt.

Suratt, Dec^ 10ll, 1703. This day letters from Court confirm's the new's of this GovL. being displac't & Nizbett Cawne related to the EmpL- appointed to succeed him.

Suratt, DpcL. 12%, 1703. The Gov?L having certaine information of his being turned out, took the Dutch Brokers yesterday into custody, by virtue of an order from Court for recovering four lack of rupees (over & above the six lack formerly extorted) for Cossumbys ship, endeavouring thereby imbroyle- ing matters as much as he can, to f oile if possible the new GovL_ when he arrives, being expected in 12 or 15 days.

8URAT DIARIES. 268

Suratt, Decembz^. IS*, 1703. Rustumjee and others assured the Consull the present GovL. was upon the severall notori- ous complaints made to the EmpL. against him reduc't to seaven Sydee or 700 horse, the tytle of Cawne taken from him, and to he called (as if had not hin advanc't) hy his former name Momee Avees, and immediately goe up to Court.

Suratt, Dec% 19% 1703.

This morning Nazarula Cawne, Generall of the Princes forces lyeing w^.out the citty, comeing into towne in his Pallinquine, mett a party of Arahs, who affronting him as he went along immediately ordered his men cutting them downe for their insolencies. Eight was slaine upon the spott, & the others fled, upon w^ said Gen1! went to the Cozzes, where sending for the Vocanovees & Harcarra, discourst the matter, & the ill consequence permitting the Arahs heing so unaccountably bold & troublesome to the inhabitants of this place, taking what they want by fforee out of their shops and stables, abuseing their weomen as they pass along the streets, accuseing them burning the town 12 or 14 days past, whereby gott a consider- able plunder, robbing the poor people then in a consternation & confussion, daily pillageing and affronting the Banians &CL. w*£ severall other bold and audacious proceedings, w£^ they presently resolved laying before the EmpL_, & accordingly wrote this day a joynt letter signed by said Ministers, fully representing the aforesaid greivances to him, informing it cheifly pro- ceeded from the lenity of the late GovL. to said people for some private end, to the great dis- couragemL of his Maj^l8 port & tradeing inhabitants of this citty, w^ they now laid before him, in order to have it redrest for the future, by signifieing his pleasure therein, preventing y2_ ill consequences it may otherwise have if their baseness is not timely curbed.

In order to w^ Nazarula Cawne drew his fforces togather ab!_ 1500 horse and ffoot, send- ing immediately for the like number that lay 20 course off to joyne him, in case the Arabs should make any attempt revenging the loss of their slaine people, yL Eunuch or Commander-in-Cheife of said ships for yi. King of Muscate comeing wJJ a body of 5 or 600 men 'tis said w^ an intention assaulting said Generall, of w£j? a little time will better inform us.

Suratt, DeCL 20% 1703.' This morning the Eunuch Cheife of the Arabs gathered togather a body of 5 or 600 men, in a garden w^out the citty for taking satisfaction on Nazarula Cawne killing 8 of his people the day before, upon wcJl this Gov1;, sent 7 or 8 merch*i to said Eunuch, representing the ill consequence resenting the matter in such a hostile manner in another Kings dominions, advised his returning to Roan where some of their ships lyes, & probably it might be better accomo- dated when yi- new GovL comes into the citty 2 or 3 dayes hence, said Eunuch accordingly retireing to Roan.

At a Consultation held in Suratt the 20^ December 1703. Wee having certaine intelligence y* y° King had displaced this GovernL for his mis- managemi and spoiling the trade of the Port, and that there was a new Govern! upon the road coming to succeed him, wee sent Moandass Durbarr to meet him with a complimentory letter, and as he found opertunity to make known our greivance to him.

JN° GAYER. STEPHEN COLT. E. BENDALL.

264 SURAT DIARIES.

Suratt, De<?L 24%, 1703.

This morning early Mess? Will*?. Proby & Jeremy Bonnell went in the Companys Coach 8 miles out of towne to meet the new GovL, that reel them very kindly, w!^ promises when he came into the citty should endeavour makeing all matters easey, as well to the Europeans as inhabitants that in generall left the towne this day, declareing the |great oppressions and hard- ships the late GovL. had inflicted on them, w5^ he promis't should be redrest when he came into the citty.

Suratt, Dec% 25%, 1703.

This day the Gov£_ came into the citty, attended by the Vocanovees, Codgee, Harcarra, and other officers of the towne, merchants, &cL.

Surat, Bec% 26%, 1703.

Being idollett* or publick Councill day, the new GovL appeared w*^. the rest of the Kings Ministers to receive what complaints yL Banians & other inhabitants brought against the late Gov1!, who exhibitted yL following greivance of their haveing paid him rupees 65000 extort- ed from them upon a pretended charge in time of Savagee, the EmpL had directed his returning to the inhabitants, w^ he had not as yett done ; as well as a considerable sum paid by the Banians in 1^ rupees each in their Poll Tax, then ordered by theMogull, w£^ they desired might be reimburst them by the late GovL. in whose hands 'twas lodged ; and accordingly the GovL appointed severall merch!? accomodateing the matter between them.

This day the guards were removed from the Dutch and old factory.

Suratt, DeCL 27%, 1703.

This day upon complaint of severall Banians inhabitants against CheUiby the late Governours favourite that he had extorted from them to the amoi of rupees 85000, was confined att the Katwalls till he had refunded what appeared he had forceably taken from the severall inhabi- tants then complanants.

This day the Ffrench Director paid a vissitt to the new GovL , w*£ whom he tarryed a quar- ter of an hour, only presenting him w^ beetle and rose water.

Suratt. DecJL 28* 1703.

The matter of the Banians being not yet accomodated they still continue Castle Green, pressing the GovL doing them justice, or else they would be oblidged leaveing the citty & seek for redress from those able to protect them, the old GovL. only offering half their afore- said demand, w5^ as yet they refuse receiving.

Adawlut. Ar. H. adalat ' a Court of Justice' from adl doing justice. Under the Mahommedan Govern- ment there were three such Courts, viz., Nizamat Adalat, Diwani Adalat and Faujdari Adalat, so called from their respective titles. The first was the Chief Criminal Court, the second a Civil Court, the third a kind of Police Court. Colonel Yule's Hobson- Jobson

BURAT DIARIES. 2C5

Suratt, December 29% 1703.

This day the Governour sent and desired our best State horse, wJ* y_£. President att first refused, being dead stock could neither sell or present him, upon w?£. the broker declared if he should be denyed such a favour at this criticall juncture might cassually occasion such a resentment, now matters seems to be at a crisis accomodateing these late troubles w*_ the inhabitants as well as Europeans, as might bee very prejudiciall to the Company affaires, w£ the President in conjunction w*. the Councill takeing seriously into consideration, was accord- ingly sent this evening.

Suratt, Jan*? 2*, 1703 4. After severall meetings and debates, the business of the Banians was at last ajusted this day w* the late Gov J,, receiveing for their late demand but rupees 37000, wJl they was oblidged accepting in full thereof, the new Governour now promiseing takeing the matter of the Dutch &cJt into consideration, for accomodateing their late troubles, and opening the port.

Suratt, Jan^ Si, 1703

% The late Govern JL now denying paying of the 37000 rupees, determined he should pay the Banians, in satisfaction of their demand; oblidged the present Govern JL placeing guards upon him, in order to his complyance therew*..

And Chelliby his quondam favourite refuseing to refund what part he then extorted from them, induc't the Govern!!, putting him in irons, till he's given the complanants full satisfaction.

Suratt, Jan% 4^, 1703

4. Present the Hon^ Sr Nicholas Waite, Kn^, Pubhck Minister & Consull GenJ^L, Will J? Proby, & Jeremy Bonnell.

The Presid_* told the Councill they knew he had bin severall dayes greatly indisposed of a feavour, and not yett well, occasioned his not meeting them in Councill ; they makeing report the 24th ult-^ their waiteing upon the new Govern.! pursuant to a resolution of Councill the 21!! ditto kindly receiveing them, takeing but one gold moore of yJL5, and 5 silver rupees they as customary presented him, said should be glad to see the Consull when he came into the citty ; where he entered the 25* about noone, all the Banians and inhabitants the day before shutting up their shopps, makeing great complaints against the old Govern J. , and Chelliby his ffavourite for his barborous usage, and extorting great sum's of money w°)L they demanded back ; and being heard the 26* and 29* in the publick idollett, Chelliby was taken into custody, and the severall demands upon him wrote downe ; and the 2A ins JL the Banians upon the desire of the new GovernJL accepted rupJL 37000 for seaventy odd thousand unduely taken from

B 1255—67

266 SUBAT DIARIES.

them in overrateing their money, and toward defraying the charge pretended for defending the citty against the Savagee, that destroyed almost all the buildings wj^lout the walls, w^l sum not being immediately paid, and Chelliby asserting that wJL sumes he had received was for the use, and benefitt, paid by him to the old Govern j^ w* many other demands, for great sum's extorted from y ?. inhabitants, the new GovernJL directed guards upon his house till he adjusts & satisfies the people, or the Kings pleasure be known thereupon.

The new GovernJL directed all the Hopshees or Coffree guards to bee removed from the Dutch and old ffactory, to be only attended by a certaine number of the Katwall or Kings soldiers, leaveing each of saidfactorys att liberty having all necessary provissions, and the Jun^ to goe out and into the citty in the day time, but not out of the walls wiillout an especiall order.

The President then said that upon their advice & opinion the GovernJL desireing the first & best State horse, formerly presented S £_ Nicholas Waite by Dianat Cawne, and by him given the Comp_, not to deny said request, but rather oblidge his friendship delivering said horse, hee paying rupees six hundred ninety three to be charged to Rustumjee cheif BrokJ? ace!,*,.

And that for the first State horse delivered the new GovernJL upon his request, Rustumjee bee debitted in the Generall Books six hundred ninety three rupees.

And S JL Nicholas Waite is desired writeing half a dozen lynes to the Agent and Councill of Persia, for cover to a packett transmitted by the Court of United Managers, w*JL copy of their letter dated yJL 24!Jl Sept JL to goe by the " Howland," and if anything materiall offers before her sayleing from hence, or Bombay, worthy adviseing the Company, that the President be pleased to write itt, under a copy of what wrote them by the " Aurungzeb."

NI. WAITE.

W| PROBY.

JEREMIAH BON NELL, Jun_L

EDMJL CROWE,

Sec2_.

Suratt, Janry. 25% 170S

4. This day had an acc_*=- of the ingagement between y JL Porteguize & Arabs in the fol- lowing manner. Y .e; 224- in the evening y JL Porteguize, being seaven capitall ships, weighed in yjL Road, birthing themselves oposite to yJL same number of Arabs, & about 4 o'clock y_i Porteguize began to assault yJL Arabs very briskly, where they fought an hour at anchor, and night comeing on, yJL two greatest of the Arabs cutt, being persu'd by all yji Porteguize, and making yl best of their way out to Sea, yJL rest of yJL Arabs endeavoured coming over the Barr into yJL river, while yJL seaven Porteguize chased yJL two largest of their ships that they pretend slip't them in the night, & went their way downe the coast, though y ±_ " Catherin" relates y ±. largest of them at one time was batter'd by 5 Porteguize that gott nothing but shame & dishonJL by the bargaine, making no better use of such a favourable opertunity destroying them, three of yJL Arabs capitall ships being then in yJL river, w^ is all the accJL wee yet have of this encounter.

SURAT DIARIES. 267

May y%.S&^, 1704.. — This morning Venwallydass came and acquainted us that the new Com- panys Broker Rustom had been w!£ the Govern rr & told him y * all the old CompaJL. servants were turned out; y_* S.L Nichoi Waite was made Clitil' ; that theship arrived at Bombay was consigned to him, and that y % old Company had given the Queen of England one or two lack of rupJL to make their peace. Then the Govern * asked him whether he might deliver y_i money w*^ safety y <• wee had seized on off Abdul Gophores. Rustom said, yess, deliver, for Sjl John Gayer is no- thing now, he can't stop the port or doe it any mischeif, for all the power now is in my masters hand, and that said Rustom told y ° Gover r he must secure 8£ John Gayer and the old Com- panys servants to be answerable for the security paper and the many lacks of rup _■_. the towne merchants had been robbed off by the pyratts, and all demands or debts yj*. any people may make upon the old Companys ffactory, he must make y1?. give satisfaci., for his master would not be answerable for any thing.

JNO GAYER.

STEPHEN COLT.

E. BENDALL.

At a Consultation held in Suratt the 26i>> May 170-i.

At night when they returned they gave y£ following depositions : —

This day about 12 a clock wee were ordered by the Generall PresidJL and Councill to go to the Governours house and answer to such questions as should there be put to us relating to the settlement of the United Trade according to the instructions given W™ Mildmay and yJL Broker by them.

Accordingly wee went and was seated in a publick place with the Dewan (the Governour being in his private apartment), who at first coming asked severall indifferent questions and dis- patched several persons to call the new Companys people. After some time M.JL Jeremia Bonnell and M L. Edward Crowe came just as the Governour was coming out of his apartmJL to go to prayers, who in the yard asked which was the new Coinp.?r people and which was the old, then bid the Dewan sitt downe and examine into y J. papers and buisniess wee came about. W™ Mild- may bid Venwally ask the Dewan what the Governour sent for us for : who answered, to ask who that ship belongA. to that was lately arrived at Bombay? W™ Mildmay said it belonged to the United Trade of both Companys. Then who was Cheif & Generall ? I was answ^. John Gayer. Then who was Presidl of Suratt. I was answj* S_L NichofL Waite. Then the Dewan turned to M_L Bonnell and Rustom their Broker and asked them what they had to say. MJL Bonnell said he was come there to talk with the Governour, not to the Dewan. Then the Dewan asked us if wee had brought yi. papers from the Company to prove Si. John Gayer was General &c!L. Wm Mildmay said wee had brought no papers, neither would wee ever shew our masters orders to them, and since Mil Bonnell &g3l wo^ not answer to his questions wee would not answer to any more neither, and desired liberty to goe home, which after some time was granted upon promise that wee would come again at 5 a clock if sent for.

In the evening wee were sent for againe by the Governour, where wee found Mess ™ Bonnell and Crowe discoursing with the Dewan. So soon as wee came the Dewan asked us again who that ship belonged to that was arrived Bombay. Wee answered wee had told him before to the United Trade of both Companys. Then who was Generall and Cheif, Answered S rr John Gayer was Generall and ordered to reside at Bombay. Who was Presidi. of Suratt then ? Answered S JLNicbJL Waite. M * Bonnell in Portuegueze bid Rustom tell the Dewan SZ_ John Gayer was Generall, but it was but for 3 months, and if he did not cleare all the demands that was upon the old Company in that time S-L. Nichi Waite was Generall, and must go downe to Bombay. W_2

268 SURAT DIARIES.

Mildmay was asked if that was true. He answered that if it pleased God Si John should dye or any unforeseen accident should happen to him in that time so that he could not go to Bombay, then S II Nich_L Waite was GenlL ; but as to clearing all the old CompJL accoil &cj»_ before he went there was no occasion, for there would be those of the old Companys servants left that would take care to pay what any one coi_ justly demand of them. Then the Dewan asked if neitherof yB. couldgoe, who was Generall then. Wee said his Worship Burniston, the pressJiDeputy Governour. Wee desired to know upon what occasion all these questions was asked us, to w?lL no answer was given, but M L. Bonnell pul'd out of his pocket the Hon^ii EngJL. Companys seal, and laid it before all the company and asked if Ws Mildmay could deny that to be the Com- panys seal, and whether yJL letters y 1. now came was not sealed with it. William Mildmay said he could not denie but that it was, and the letters were sealed with it, as by agreeml- between the two Compel in England when they united. Then Mil Bonnell opened the Indenture of Union in a page turned downe, clapt his hand upon it, and asked if wee could deny the old CompJL being turned out and the trade brought under the management of the new, w0^ that and the seal tes- tifyed. W° Mildmay said he did not deny any thing contained in those writeings, neither had he any orders to answer to such questions, and asked the gentlemen the reason of their bringing these things upon the stage. At this time wee had been sufficiently deprest all ready, had they a mind to bury us quite underground. Ml Bonnell said he followed his orders, wee might follow ours, and Ml. Crowe made answer, You may thank yourselves for it. All this comes upon you through the message that was sent by SJL John to S JL NichJL that he designed to acquaint yJL Governour of y % settlement. Venwally told WijL Mildmay the Dewan asked if S.L John went away, who was there left so great as to give answi. for what demands might come upon the old Company. WJ2 Mildmay said he knew well enough there was sufficient to sattisfy all just debts that any one had upon us, therefore what matter who was left, he might give the Dewan what answer he pleased, those there would be left that would take care that none should be sufferers on the old Companys accoui..

Then wee were all carry ed before y £ Govern JL, before whome wee were asked who was Generall & who PresidA &cJL, to which wee answered as before. The seal was again shewn to the Governour and what elce passed there was in Moores, which WJ5. Mildmay did not under- stand, therefore John Brangwin gives a deposition apart, but Ussher Beag was ordered to put a guard upon the Generall (Venwallidass refusing to be his security) and came home w^. us in y± coach to see it done, and ordered ffifty men to follow him to the ffactory. To this wee can make oath.

WM MILDMAY, SecrJJ.

JOHN BRANGWIN, Sen_L Ffactor.

The late Aurengzebs two eldest sonns, Shaalym and his 4 sons, & Ossumshaw and his 3 sonns, fought the desiding battell for the Crowne, the 4^ last June, on this side Agra on w^ day Ossumshaw and his sonns was slaine, and 'tis si. near 30000 men on both sides. The most authentick p.ticulars from the Court goes inclosed for your divertion, since w^ has occurred other disturbances omitted, being variously reported & uncertain, detards all security for inland trade, till the GovernmLis settled. Humbly committ yo!L affaires to devine protection, and you may please to believe that I am

Bombay Castle, y4 28% Septemb^ 1707. NICRO WAITE.

SURAT DIARIES. 269

Surat, August Anno 1740.

Diary of James Hope Esqj,., Chief for affairs of the Honl^9 United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies &cl Council, residing in their factory of Surat & sub- ordinate to the Hon^i- Stephen Law Esq! President of the Coast of India, Persia, & Arabia, Governour and Commander in Chief of his Majestys Castle & Island of Bombay &ci Council.

Surat, Sunday, 31%. August 1740.

At a Consultation, Present :

James Hope, EsqJL, Chief.

Will'lL Lowther. John Burchall.

James Henry Lambe. '

W^L Johnson indisposed.

The Chief acquaints the Board he called this meeting purposely to inform us of his having rec <!_ advices from Ahmud Chellaby — that Mess™* Waters & Cromelin had laden on board his ship eight hundred bales of coffee on our Hon^j? Masters account, which ship is now attacked in sight of the road by two Portugueze Grabs, who in all probability have secured her as a prize, and to desire wee would think of some method either to secure, or in case said ship is taken, to recover what coffee may be on board belonging to our Hon^f Masters. Taking the same into consideration. — It is agreed to order CapJL Freeman to repair immediately on board his ship & follow all such orders as he may receive from Mjl William Lowther, who together with the Vackeel are likewise ordered to proceed with him.

Ordered the Secretary to draw out Cap £ Freemans and MJL Lowthers instructions.

JAMES HOPE. WILL* LOWTHER. W. JOHNSON. JOHN BURCHALL, JAMES HENRY LAMBE.

Sec^. JOHN BURCHALL.

Surat, Sunday, 28'A June 1741.

Being in want of Smiths to carry on the necessary services of the Island, they direct us to endeavour to procure twenty five, to whom we may promise four rupees for every hundred- weight of iron they work up & their provisions. As they have no intention of employing the sloop but to bring the investment from the N.Lward, they think the present allowance of thirty two rupees a month to the Master is sufficient. Mettah Nanan having alledged that eight hundred & seven rupees had been made good in part of his debt to the Company, they direct us to enquire into the same as he has not credit for so large a sum.

b 1255—68

270 8TJBAT DIARIES.

Account Salary due to the Hon"? Companys Covenant Servants from 1*1 Jan5 1740-41 to July 1"L 1741.

Persons Names.	Stations.	Time servi	Yearly Salary.	Salary due.
James Hope Esq^ Willie Lowther Do. for reading Devine	Chief C. Mer»- Serv" FacK- Do.' Do. Writer Surgeon	M9. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6	days. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0	£ 100 30 12 15 15 15 5 54	8. 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0	£ s. d. 8. d. 50 0 0 @ 2 6 15 0 0 „ 120 0 6 50,, 50 0	400 0 r. pice. 170 0
W5 Johnson Ja5- Henry Lambe John Burchall John Hope Joseph Grey	7 10 0 „ ... 7 10 0 „ ... 7 10 0 „ ... 2 10 0 „ ... 27 0 0 „ ...	60 0 60 0 20 0 60 0 216 0
	£123 5 0 rupi	986 0
■-	. ...

Surat, July Ifi, 1741.

Errors Excepted, WILLIAM LOWTHER.

Surat, Saturday, 18% July 1741.

This morning the Governour went to view the city wall & bastions, which he ordered to be kept in a posture of defence, as also several of the gates to bee shut up, & has taken into pay about two thousand five hundred Sepoys on account of its being expected that Nasserjung will bend his march this way.

Sunday, 19% — In the evening the Vackeel came to the ffactory and acquainted the Chief that the Governour had sent for him to his garden, when he told him he had advice of Nasserjungs in- tending to come this way & that he had appointed several guards to take care of the citty wall, & as our new Bunder joined to one end of it desired we would send a Company of Sepoys to guard it, to which Manackjee reply ed that at this juncture he believed we should not think it proper, & desired he would excuse it, which he readily complyed with, but at the same time ordered a party of his own people thither, directing him to acquaint the Chief therewith.

SURAT DIARIES. 271

Sural, March 174.1,

An account of the neat produce of one hundred ounces of the following species of silver in Bombay Mint : —

Norva or old Mexico Dollars dated to the year 1726, one hundred ounces

now produces clear of Mint charges D ° or new Mexico Dollars dated since that year d~

Tamulia or old pillar Dollars dated to the year 1 728 d.?

Df or new pillar Dollars dated since that year German Crowns produces ... Marchanor Duccatoons d!- Vaggia or Lyon Dollars d% ... ■ ...

Leltollas d°

EjL	q?-	ro*.
244	3	16
243	2	28
247	1	39
244	1	39
232	2	41
249	2	26
195	I	41
141	0	0

Surat, Saturday, 20(i March 1742. To

The Hon^i Court of Directors for affairs of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies :

May it please your Honours,

The Maurattas have taken a large ship bound to Juddah belonging to this place & worth between three & four lack of rupees, but we presume they may restore the ship & cargoe for some consideration, as we are of opinion they have taken this step to render themselves more formidable to the traders of this port, and by that means to enjoy the duties or Jaggir which the Sciddees are now in possession off, who are soe miserably reduced that they are neither able to protect the trade of this port or their own territories, but in case the Maurattas should not so immediately succeed in acquiring this subsidy, they will however oblidge the Merchants to take their pass.

May it please your Honours,

Your Honours most faithful & Obedient humble servants,

JAMES HOPE. WILL*! LOWTHER. WILL* JOHNSON. JA§_ HEN. LAMBE. JOHN BURCHALL. EDWARD HOPE.

Surat, Sunday, 27**. June 1742.

This afternoon Soffdar Mahmud Caun summond all the merchants & traders of this city to the Durbarr, when he remonstrated to them, that the charges of supporting the Bangs fleet were of late augmented, and notwithstanding such an augmentation still a further increase of the fleet was necessarry at this juncture, as severall ships att Scindy belonging to Naudir Shaw intended to repair hither as soon as the monsoon would permitt them. It being therefore requisite that the Kings force be in a suitable posture to protect the trade and oppose any measures that may be attempted to the destruction of the port by the Maurattas or otbers, and

272 SURAT DIARIES.

to which end it was necessary to finde some ways & means to raise a sume sufficient to dis- charge that expence,when at last an addition of one quarter per cent on the imports & exports was proposed by Suffdar Mahmud Caun as a competent sum, and it was accordingly agreed to by the merchants without any great opposition, and before they left the Durbarr they signed a writing as a signification of their assent.

Swat, Monday, 23$. August 1742. To

Captain Benjamin Fisher,

of the Ship " Porto Bello." Sir,

We are this moment apprized that there are Cooley rovers now cruzing on the Barr, where they have committed some depredations, and as they may in all probability continue there these springs with a view to ketch more prey out of the boats sent downe to unlade our Hon^l? Masters ship the " Porto Bello," as was the case three years ago when the " Hastingfeild " was at this port, and as wee are entirely destitute either of a Sloop or Gallivatts to escort our boats betwixt the ships & the Barr, though wee have put a suitable number of Factory sepoys in each boat, but as no dependance can be made on those wretches where a good resistance is neces- sary, we for these reasons have thought proper to direct that you order your Long Boat to be well manned and armed in order to convoy the boats to & from the Soddy Bank, and likewise to lend us some men to equipp our Bunder Pinnace, which we shall employ on the same occa- sion, these being the only secure methods wee can take to prevent any disaster or our Hon^? Masters sustaining any losses by those troublesome Peccaroons.

We are, Sir, Your very humble Servants, JAMES HOPE. WILLIAM LOWTHER. WILLIAM JOHNSON. JAMES HENRY LAMBE. JOHN BURCHALL. EDWARD HOPE.

Suratt, Monday, 10^ October 1743.

Rece4 a letter from the H^. President & Council of Bombay, dated the Is* instant. They advise us that the Govl_ had read to them a letter from Captain Ralph Kellet, wherein he desires leave to go to England over land, at w^L they are surprized, as applications of that nature from private persons living here ought to have been first made to us, and we to make them known to them. They say that if Cap 1 Kellet pays his money into the Companys Cash, and in all other respects complys with the Companys orders relating to persons carrying their effects out of India, wee may dispence with his going over land. They add that such proceed- ings are not altogether consistent with the Companys orders, and that Captains Nash & Gordon were permitted in consideration of their service, and having paid into the Companys cash the amoJ of their estates, and that others who have not such a recommendation ought not

SURAT DIARIES. 275

to expect the same favour. That should we permit Cap.*^ Kellet to repair over land, what money lie pays can only remain deposited in our cash, nor can he have Bills of Exchange for it, untill an opportunity offers of one of the Companys ships directly to Great Brittain, and then enly at the exchange of 2* 3d for a rupee. They advise us of the arrival of our Hon1?!? Masters ship the M Princess oi Wales" the It* instant in the morning, and direct us to make a provision of six hundred (600) hales of cotton, besides what is already ordered, as the Company write them they may expect another ship at Christmas, which is to be loaded, but that they wont mention where she is to proceed afterwards.

Snrat, Wednesday, 7^ December 1743.

This day the Scidy, all the principal merchants of the citty, with the Vackeels. & the Bro- kers of the several nations trading here, were called to the Durbar, when the GovJL Tegkhan told them hee had received from Court Husbul Hokums under the Vizirs seal directed to the Scidy, to the English, to the Dutch & French, & to the city merchants in general, confirm- ing him in his Government & directing them to aid & assist him in case of necessity against Abdul Azeez Khan (alias Muckboulalum) who had published a fictitious Husbul Hokum in his own favour for the province of Guzerat & this citty. He then ordered the several Husbul Hokums to be read & delivered to those they were directed to, or to their Representatives then present. 1£* Fraser being called thither, wee sent him, & hee received that directed to the Chief, which translated as follows : —

A translation of the Husbul Hokum,

Distinguished among your equals and neighbours MJL Hope, Chief of the Factory at the fortunate Port of Suratt.

Know that at this time it has been represented at Court that Abdul Azeez Khan has published a copy of a Husbul Hokum in his own name for the offices of Soubahdar of the Soubah of Ahmedabad, & Muttesiddy of the fortunate port of Surat, & having gathered together an army is prepared & intends to raise troubles & disturbances, as his pretence is meer fiction & falsehood, & as the office of Muttesidy of the fortunate port of Surat is by his Royal Majesty fixed & settled (in the same manner as formerly) upon the resolute and excellent Teg Beg Khan — Therefore the high Husbul Hokum is issued, that you (in conjunction with, & obedience to the said Khan in the Kings bussiness) make appear your good services, & rest in hopes of a good recompense. In this affair be punctual. Written the 21"* Shaban in the 26*Jl year of the fortunate reign.

The seal contained the following words : —

" The Vizir of the empire, Kummiro'din Khan Bahadur, victorious in war, in whom the King puts his confidence. Faithful servJ_ of MahjJ. Shah the Valiant Ernperor."

This order we have great reason to believe is forged here, it being very apparent both by the seal & the stile. The Governour & his brother Suffdir Khan told the Scidy & mer- chants in gen j_ that as such orders had come from Court, if any person was discovered to correspond with or aid or assist directly or indirectly the said Abdul Azeez Khan or any of his dependants, they should forfeit their lives & effects. At last he told them he would send them a paper to be signed, which if they refused to do it was plain they acted contrary to the Court orders & were friends to the enemy. He said he did not desire them to assist him with

b 1255—69

274 SURAT DIARIES.

money or goods, he only wanted their inclinations, & such of them as had power and forces in constant pay, it would be no additional charge to them to aid him. By this he hinted at the Scidy, who at last by means of threats & promises, declared he would join him in case of necessity with what forces he had. When Ml. Fraser was coming away, Teg Beg Khan called him near, & desired as he had heard the whole conference, & understood what was contained in the Husbul Hokum, he would represent it particularly to the Chief & Council.

Received a letter from MessIL Cole & Pattle at Patna, dated the 305l October, enclos- ing us a packet for the Hon™? Presidi_ & Council of Bombay, to be forwarded by the first conveyance.

Thursday, 8^ . — Wrote express to the Hon^l? President & Council of Bombay acquainting them with the substance of what passed yesterday at the Durbar, & inclosing them copy and translation of the Husbul Hokum, at the same time we forwarded the packet rec4 last night from Patna,

Surat, TJiursday, 15Q December 1743. At a Consultation, Present :

James Hope KsqJl Chief.

George Hamilton. Will Johnson.

James Henry Lambe. James Fraser.

This meeting is called to take into consideration the present state of affairs in this city, Muckboul Alums army having come within two days march, & Comalo'din Khan his Naib for the province of Ahmedabad having come to Brodera with 8000 men to join him. This GovJl has made all possible preparations to oppose him, by pulling down several houses & demolishing some gardens w5jl lay near the walls, & gives out that the other has not the Kings authority to come hither.

As it may be presumed we shall in a very few days have great troubles here, it is resolved to take into the Factory as many out of the detachments belonging to the London Sloop & Galivats, as shall be judged necessary for our own defence & securing the Hs Com- panys effects from any mobb, for which purpose Cap± Roul & the other Masters are to have proper orders. It is also agreed that we now write by express Patamar to the President & Council of Bombay for suitable presents to be made Muckboul Alum in case he should take possession of this place.

Wrote by an express Patamar to the Honble President & Couneil, acknowledging the receipt of their Commands of the 3TA insl-, & acquainting them with the state of affairs in this city, as per this days Consultation, we desire they would send us as soon as possible such presents as may be necessary, in case Muckboul Alum should possess himself of this place, which must be the more considerable, as he is to command the whole Province to which this city is subordinate, as was the case when Heyder Cooly Khan passed by this place in his way to Ahmedabad. We advise them of our having with great difficulty contracted this morning with Oudeesunkar for 200 candys of cotton at 112 Rs. per candy clear of all charges, the cotton to be brought loose to town, & we to examine it & see it weighed & packed. And that the reason the merchants are so extremely averse to contracting for loose cotton to be packed at their charge after it has been viewed by us, is, that by this method the frauds usually

SURAT DIARIES. 275

practised by them are entirely prevented : it being very common when packed bales are con- tracted for, not only to put up the cotton wet and short of weight, but likewise to fill it with riililxsh besides the charges of bringing it in loose package being much greater. We also inclosed our monthly acco^l for November.

RecJL a letter from Humfries Cole Esq * & MJL Fullerton at Patna, dated the 5th November, inclosing a letter for the Preside and Council of Bombay, which they desire may be forwarded with the utmost expedition.

Friday, 16%. — Wrote to the Hon^ Presid±& Council purposely to forward the letter reed, last night from Patna.

Ordered the Sloop and Galivats which wore at Domus to come up to our Bunder.

This afternoon the acting Qovl Suffdir Khan sent for Mr_ Fraser, & desired he would acquaint the Chief, that as at low water people might pass twixt our new Bunder & the river, it would be proper some persons were appointed to guard it. He also requested we would send a party of men to keep guard at our tombs, & that we would either sell or lend to him a Cohorne Mortar. Ml Fraser reti for answer that he would acquaint the Chief therewith, upon which he told him he would send Manackchund Mettah (late Duan) tomorrow morning to the Factory to request the same.

Saturday, 17%. — This morning Manickchund came from Suffdir Khan to request the above particulars. After due consideration we agreed that as our vessels were then at the Bunder, we should land half our detachment & promised to send thirty or forty seepoys (if to be hired) to guard our tombs, but told him we had no Cohorne Mortar.

Monday, 19%. — This morning the Gov_i went round to view the condition of the Town Walls & at last came to our Bunder, from whence he sent a Chowbdar to call Ml Fraser, whom he desired to acquaint the Chief, that as that place was of great importance he intended to place five hundred of his own people there, having lately heard that Muckboul Alum was determined to come by way of Nunsary & attack the city on that quarter, while the Gov L. staid there he ordered all the trees &c. about the French garden that could in the least obstruct their view to be cut down & levelled.

Tuesday, 20%. — As the Gov*, had taken possession of our Bunder, & placed a body of his own men there, we ordered the Sloop & Galivats up to the new Factory Stairs, as they can be of more service to us there, in case of any troubles.

Wednesday, 21%. — This afternoon the Duan, the Court Vackeel Harcumdass, & the Scidys Vackeel came to the Factory. They told us that the Govil was informed the English at Bombay intended to assist Abdul Azeez Khan (alias Muckboul Alum) against him, & that we had some secret intelligence with him, to which we answered that these reports were entirely groundless, that they might rest perfectly assured the English would always remain neuter in regard to both partys in disputes of that nature, & would never act for or against any of them, excepting in defence of their own rights and priviledges. And we solemnly declared to them we had no manner of intelligence or correspondence with the other party, with which answer they seemed perfectly well satisfied.

Friday, 23£. — Muckboul Alums army were within sight of the outter walls the greatest part of this day.

I Saturday, 24%. — This day the above s^ army filed off towards Broach not finding them-

selves, as we suppose, in a condition to attack this place, there being as we hear a great scarcity of corn in their camp. They consist of 6000 horse & 3000 foot, & the Ganeems with a superior force keep hovering about them, & harrass them so much, that it's with __

276 8UEAT DIARIES.

Thursday, S£ April 1747. — Wrote to the Hon^f! President and Council of Bombay to acquaint them with the purport of the foregoing message, & to inclose an accol of goods in Warehouse the 31st ult£.

Sunday, 5 th. — This afternoon a pair of express PattI? dispatched from Pondicherry to the French Chief with a letter sealed with the French Companys seal, came by mistake with it to Ml. Fraser, who having brought it before us — it is unanimously agreed, that as it may contain advices, the knowing of which may be of the utmost importance to our Hontll Masters, to open it and forward a litteral translation thereof (as entered hereafter) to the Hon^?- President & Council of Bombay, which was accordingly done by a pair of Patt™ express : —

To

Mons_I Le Venior, Chief at Surat. Sir, Pondicherry, 18^ March 1747.

This accompany's duplicate of our last of the 11^! February enclosing the Passes which you ought to receive at the same time.

By the Regulations we have made it has been resolved that the Squadron commanded by MonsI Dardalin to the number of 4 vessels which are now actually at Mihie shall winter at Goa, in the Port of Marmagon, where they are to pass all the bad season. As it may happen that the Viceroy cannot or perhaps will not furnish them with the quantity of Prov_L & Refresh- ments which they may have occassion for during so long a stay, we forewarn you by the present to use all diligence & take all the just measures you can to get convey,! to them at Goa as much wheat as possible ; although we cannot think that the Viceroy of Goa can resonably deny our vessels wintering, yet as such a thing may happen, we have provided against it by ordering them in such case to go to Injadivee, which is an Island near Carwar, where it will be requisit (in case our vessels cannot obtain leave from the Viceroy to winter in the Port of Marmagon) that you send them as much flower & Bisket as can be made. We therefore beg that on reception of this you set to work immediately in order to execute our intentions.

We still persist to desire you will endeavour to freight a Moor or Portuguese vesssel to be 6ent with wheat to Myhie, where we have given orders to compleat her loading.

The English squadron has appeared before Gondaler the 13^ of this month to the number of eight vessels.

We request you will transmit to Diu the most certain intelligence you can procure of what English vessels are gone to Moucha, Juddah & Bussorah to the French Captain who will be there & who is to stay untill the end of July or beginning of August at farthest. If the Captain or no French vessels is at Diu, you must inform yourself where he is, that you may give him intelligence in all places.

DUPLEX & ».

To

Mons 1. Le Venior at Surat.

Pondicherry, ll1*. February 1747. Sir, The 8!^ of this month we received the letter you wrote us dated the 9^ February. The gentlemen at Mihie have forwarded us a parcell of wheat of 89 baggs by the ship " Cintaur." The wheat having been laden at Mihie & those gentlemen having not given us any accoJL of this consignment, we are at a loss to guess from whence it arises. They also advise us that they have yet a certain quantity which they would send us if they could find an opportunity, but do not explain themselves fully on this article no more than on the other.

SUB AT DIARIES. 277

We cannot too much press you to use your utmost endeavours to procure us all the wh<;it possible. We hope by your care you will remove all difficulties that you may med with on this head from the Govr. This is to us at this time of the utmost consequence by reason of the difficulties we meet with in procuring provisions from Bengali.

We flatter ourselves that you have not failed, in consequence of our 1™ of the 22 '' Sept r to remit to the order of the Council of Chandernagor Bills of Exchange for the greatest part of the produce of 27500 Dolll? w^ were remitted you by M*. Gervais. We learn from that Coun- cil that they are in great want of it.

Inclosed are duplicates of our last of the 2;* and 2lsl Jan1?, to wdiich we refer you, as to what relates to the Moor or Portuguese ship of 500 tons, which we wrote you for, as also for the precautions which it is necessary to take to conceal these advices. We wiU send you imme- diately the 10 Passports which you write for.

Suratt, Saturday, J^ November 1748.

At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Dorrill, Esq!?, Chief. William Johnson. George Sadlier.

James Henry Lambe. William And^l Price.

Read the HoM? President & Councils commands by the " Restoration," acknowledging the receipt of our letter of the 24^ ult°r by the Grabs, & the stores sent on them. They are pleased to say that by our publick advices, as well as by a letter the President had received from the Chief, that we had great reason to apprehend very ill consequences from Suffdir Khan being espoused by the Dutch, for the motives of his having granted them liberty to build a Fort at their Garden & being Custom free. In consequence of which they had now sent CapJ^ John Govin with fifty Military, as many Seepoys, & a Detachment of the Train, with a Mortar & Hobitt, Shells, stores &51 for our defence to be employed in Atchunds cause, who with reason is so well liked in Surat. They leave to our discretion the place & manner of using the above Forces as we may judge most serviceable. That they will speedily dispatch the other Grab or the Commodore to countenance our affairs.

In pursuance of our Orders recei this day to consult with the principal persons of this City for proper measures to secure tranquility to it, & the frequent requests of Meah Atchund for a publick meeting at the Durbar, which being also agreable to the discourse the Chief has often had with Sciddee Mossoot, Mulna & Sawlie Chellaboy — Agreed, that MJL Price wait upon Atchund to acquaint him what force we had at the Bank, to enquire what measures he would propose for the establishing peace in the city. That the Chief would visit him at the Durbar any time most agreable to him, but that he thought it better for the Chiefs of the other European Nations to be acquainted of such meeting, & all other foreigners, as well as the principal inhabitants of the City, that a Resolution might at once be taken in what manner to proceed, that no one might plead ignorance of such a thing being in agitation. Further, to warn Atchand that in case Suffdir Caun should be assisted by any European Nation it would be out of our power to interpose. It is further agreed that two others of the Council be sent to the Dutch Factory to acquaint the Director that Meah Atchund had desired a publick meeting

tomorrow morning at the Durbar to consult methods for the preservation of & to

know whether he would choose to be present. Mess? Sadlier & Lambe are appointed to wait the Directors accordingly.

T. DORRILL.

G. SADLIER.

JAMES HENRY LAMBE. B 1255—70

278 SURA T DIARIES.

Ml Price returns from the Durbar & acquaints the Chief of Atchunds compliments to him that he should be glad to see him tomorrow morning at the Durbar & the proper persons should be summoned as he desired. That he only suspected one Nation to assist Suffdir Caun & that tho* the past circumstances of affairs had prevented his resentment for many affronts, yet in such case he would exert himself and show them he did not want spirit to manage all his injuries.

Mess!! Sadlier and Lambe on their return from the Dutch Factory inform the Chief of Directors answer, — That as he had no orders from Batavia to enter on such an affair he could not meddle in it nor could he see any reason why Suffdir Caun should be molested in recover- ing his Government (treacherously seized) when he was absolutely the Kings officer, & had his commission for the same. Notwithstanding which he should be glad of a conference with our Chief, begged he would defer his visit to Atchund for some days and appoint a proper place for that purpose and that he would send two of his Council the next morning for an answer.

Tuesday, 15th_ . — Agreable to the publick resolution taken at the Durbar on the 6^ instant Captains Govin & England march down the Military & Marines to their appointed quarters, being Manilla Cauns house near Nunsaree Gate, with a Train of artillery consisting of two twelve Pounders, four nine Pounders, eight two Pounders, a Mortar, Hobit, & two Cohorns, with ammunition, stores &c±. The Chief went in the evening in order to reside there whilst the troubles subsisted.

Surat, Thursday, 1 7* November 1 748. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Dorrill, Esq!?, Chief.

George Sadlier. Will™ And^L Price.

William Johnson. James Henry Lambe.

Read the letter the Chief yesterday received from the Dutch Factory entered after this Consultation, and agreed that an answer to it be drawn out immediately and sent.

T. DORRILL. G. SADLIER. JAMES HENRY LAMBE.

To

The Worshipful Thomas Dorrill, Esq!!,

& Council.

Sir & Gentlemen,

This afternoon an European Soldier of ours was publickly beheaded on the Meydan, after

he had been in irons in the Castle. We are told that he was seized near your Battery, and sent

to the Castle by order of some of your servants, but not being well able to believe this & being

at present obliged to defray enquiry whether the Govl of himself by the desire of ..... . else

had acted this horrible part, so is it our friendly desire that your Worship &%. in consideration of the friendship that has always subsisted between our two Nations & which hardly 8 days ago was in effect again renewed, will lend us an helping hand to procure us sufficient satisfaction for this, in such manner as yourselves shall judge expedient.

We shall not here set forth the shame & affront that by this is put, not upon us in parti- cular, but upon all Europeans in general. You yourselves know very well that the blood of

SURAT DIARIES. 279

the meanest European, we wont say Christian and fellow beleiver, is much too noble to be thus innocently spilt, & that it is besides against the laws of all reasonable people to put a man to death without any reason ; & therefore assuring ourselves that you will with us consider this affair in such a manner as in effect it must be considered, we remain with the greatest esteem,

Sir & Gentlemen, Surat, November 27*, 1748. Your most h^S & obd* Servants,

JOHN SCHIENDER. I. PEACOCK. A. CORN* D'DA HAYE. I. SANDEMS. C. L. SENFF. P.S. — That this is not delivered as usual by one or two of us your Worship &~ will please to excuse upon account of the uncertainty of the present time.

To

The Worshipful John Schiender, Esq1;*, & Council for all affairs of the Dutch East India Company in Surat.

W. Sir & Sirs,

Your letter of yesterdays date I received last night, but not having any body then present to translate it, I was obliged to defer replying then to till now.

I am heartily sorry for the occasion of your letter to me, & think myself in a manner called upon to relate what has come to my knowledge of that affair. Yesterday about noon I had a report that a Dutchman had been examining some mortars &£ belonging to us, but that the Guard in obedience to the strict orders I had given not to molest or have any dispute with an European of any Nation, had left his imprudence pass unnoticed, whereas you, Gentlemen, must be sensible what the duty of a Centinal would have been on the like occasion in Europe. I sent to have seized him with an intent to have him carried to the W°. the Directore, not doubting that he would have ordered him to have been punished for his rashness, but answer was brought me that he went from our Mortars & surveyed the Governments Cannon & Batteries, taking more notice of them than a man without design could be supposed to do, & that pre- sently after he went from thence, he was seized by some peons coming that way. I made no other reflection thereon than that they were the Directors Peons who, apprehending the man, might have an intention to enter either into the Governments or our service were sent to seize him. Some small time before I received your letter I was informed that the Gov! of the place had killed an European. I had our people called over and none being missing, I concluded it must be the Dutchman that had been on the works, but was not confirmed in that till I had your favour translated.

I assure you, Gentlemen, that if I can find out any body in my service that carried or even went with the man to the Castle, I will do you all the justice in my power. I hope I have not any body so imprudent about me, and should be glad that you, Gentlemen, would inquire of the person or persons who gave you such information, what grounds they had for it. If they are just, they will not be afraid to impeach those that have been in general accused ; but if it is done out of an ill design of breeding contention and animosities between us, there are too many of that disposition in the place, and should those who have now aspersed me through my servants be of that kind, I doubt not the Directore will do me justice. Had I heard such busy bodys on my arrival, I should never have made the first approaches towards an harmony that

280 SURAT DIARIES.

I should be always glad might subsist between the subjects of two Nations so nearly allied, and I am really sorry that our different opinions relating to the present calamities of this City should occasion our being engaged in arms on opposite sides ; and I must remark, Gentlemen, that the Dutch Gunners in Suffdir Khans Camp are very remarkable in endeavouring to kill any of our people that appear on the walls. I would not willingly impute it to any orders from their superiors.

You must be sensible, Gentlemen, that we have force enough already joined with the prin- cipal inhabitants of the place, besides a number of his Majestys ships hourly expected at Bombay to settle the quiet of this place, & therefore it can't be imagined that the offers I now make are out of any desire of an additional strength to carry on the affairs in hand, but I should be very sorry to see an European Nation be alone in not benefitting by the publick tranquility. Therefore I must repeat my offers before the affair is too late, of inviting you to the Party that in all human probability will soon prevail. I am ready to hearken to any propositions you, Gentle- men, may make for the publick good, & to go hand in hand with you in settling any differences that may subsist between Meah Atchund & you, but it would be rashness in me to interpose relating to his taking all precautions towards preventing his City being betrayed to the Enemy, & had Englishmen acted openly as Gunners against him, I really could not have blamed him if he had made examples of them, th6 if I had got notice of the Dutchmans being in his power, I should instantly have sent to the Directore to have advised him of it, & with his consent have made use of any interest I may have with Meah Atchund to have prevented it.

As things now seem to draw towards a crisis, I should be glad to receive a speedy answer to that part of this letter that relates to an agreement of jointly acting in what I look upon to be for the publick good. I am very respectfully,

Worshipful Sir & Sirs, Surat, the 17th NovL. 1748, Your very Obedient & most humble Servant,

THOMAS DORR ILL.

The Chief receives the following letter from the Dutch Directore, dated this day, as follows : — To

The W% Thomas Dorrill, Esq™ , Sir & much esteemed Friend,

I just now had the honour to receive your much esteemed favour of this day, but I am extreamly sorry that I cannot understand it, neither have I any body that can translate or even read it intelligibly & well, & therefore I am obliged to have recourse to your goodness, & to desire you in the humblest manner to let me have a translation of it either in French, Latin, Dutch, or High Dutch, or please to send me a trusty man who can explain the contents though

only in Portugeze ... That I did not send a French translation, as was always

usual with mine of yesterday, only happened for want of an able person, and therefore asuring myself that you will not let that serve for an example, I remain with off ers of my sincere inclinations for the maintenance of an unfeigned friendship with the greatest esteem,

Sir & much esteemed Friend, Surat, the 28% November 1748, N.8. Your most humble & obed^ Servant,

JOHN SCHIENDER,

SURAT DIARIES. 281

In pursuance of the above M"L Price was sent to the Dutch Directore to explain the Chiefs letter.

We have been credibly informed this day that the Dutch man who was executed the 10th by the Government had spike nails found in his pocket and confessed that he had left some of his companions in the enemys Camp & who were paid as Gunners.

Friday, 18* November 1748.

Letter from the Dutch Directore, dated and received this day : —

To

The W°r Thomas Dorrill, Esq™

Sir and much esteemed Friend,

I intend to send you two of my Council, & therefore desire you will in all civility to send me an answer to this by word of mouth, whether and when you will please to receive & hear them in the Factory, and in case your Worship pleases appoint any certain time for this, then I mast desire a certain assurance that those who come from me shall not be molested in their way to & from the Factory by Meah Atchund or any of his servants. I remain with the greatest esteem,

Sir & much esteemed Friend, Surat, 29*. November 1718. Your most humble obed<L Servant,

JOHN SCHIENDER.

Sunday, 20lh November. — Wrote to the Hon"e President & Council of Bombay acknowledging the receipt of their Commands of the 30*^ ult °_ per " Restoration," of the Sec1!3 Letter of the 6^ per Bombay) & those of the 13£ per Pattamar, advising them of Cap.* Govins arrival with the Mili- tary & Detachment of the Train, with a Mortar, Hobit, Shells, Stores &c*, but that the Seepoys said to accompany them were not on board. That as Suffdir Khans cruel disposition in case he enter- < 1 the City was so justly dreaded by all sorts of people, we found it absolutely necessary for the security of the Honl^£ Company s affairs to support Atchund, & that we acquainted them all the principal inhabitants joined with us (except the Dutch), who declare themselves neuter, tho we have reason to believe they have assisted the enemy with money, ammunition &£5 which has been the main reason of the war's being of so long a continuance & that we hoped the allied Forces would soon put an end to the present troubles. That we should detain the Grabs here as we had weakened them by taking out so many of their people, besides the dispatching them at this

juncture might damp the spirits of our allies. That we had assembled the Merchants &

sale of Goods at Bombay on the 25th

Insi but they requested might be deferred till the present troubles were over. That

We had also acquainted the Merchants of the " Durringtons " intended voyage to Mocha & offered her to freight, but that they answered by her touching at Tellicherry the Premium & Insurance would so considerably rise, they could lade no goods on board her, but had she proceeded directly to the Port of Mocha they would have filled her. That by the long indisposition of b 1255—71

282 SVRAT DIARIES.

most of the servants here (occasioned by the epidimical fever which has raged many months in this city) our business had been retarded, but that the Cambay Annual Acco.*8 & Such of our Factory as could possibly be got ready should be forwarded in a day or two.

Sunday, A'b. December 174-8. — This morningabout8 o'clock two hundred Europeans & Topasses with an hundred Bombay Seepoys under the commandof Ensign Funge and Capi Watson sallied out upon the Enemy, and made their way good to their great Battery nearest the Town Wall & two others near it. They drove them from them and took eight of their Cannon. A party of the Sciddees people accompanied them out, but when the action grew warm they deserted, & the afternoon coming on our party was obliged to retreat not having time to raise proper breast- works & trenches to defend themselves from any attack the enemy might make on them in the night, without which they judged they could not defend the ground they had taken. About 1 o'clock the retreat was beat & about 2 they arrived at the quarters. They left two Euro- peans & one Bombay Seepoy dead in the field, and both the Commanding Officers with about four or five Cannon men were wounded with arrows. What number of the enemy they killed is uncertain, but 'tis reported many. One European they saw lying dead in the field with Patan colours by him, & know him to be Claude Johnson, formerly belonging to the "Restoration" Grab. He deserted from us to the Dutch, th6 they are pleased to deny he ever was in their service, notwithstanding at the time of his death he was cloathed in the Dutch Regimentals, & it was well known he was in their service at the commencement of these troubles. There was this day four of the Dutch Factory Soldiers killed in Suffdir Khans service & four other returned to their Factory ; there are yet numbers with him, and many of them in the Dutch Directors Regimentals.

•o1-

Monday, 5lb. . — A body of Seepoys consisting of about 300 men came to one of the City Gates, & pretending to be discharged Suffdir Khans service, requested Atchund to enter them in his, but he being suspicious they might have some treacherous intentions he would not admit them.

Tuesday, 61Jl. — At Drum Beat this morning the Chief ordered the Beating to Arms and pre- sently after Meah Mahmi Allee and the Sciddee came with their forces to our quarters about six o'clock. Our Military & Marines with our Bombay Peons went out at the Sallie Port under the com- mand of Cap! John Govin and Cap! George England, who drew them up on a plain ground under the Town Wall with about 100 of the Government Peons. They waited till near midday under arms for a reinforcement of 1 00 people more, which Sciddee Mossoot had promised should join them, & likewise for Multans troops to attack the enemys batteries on the other side near Seiad Poorah Gate. The enemy observing our motions brought one gun to bear upon our troops, which unfortunately took off the heads of two Europeans belonging to the "Restoration," upon report of which to the Chief, he ordered them to begin their attack directly, but to be sure to make the country forces keep up, that they might not abscond in time of action. They had not marched above one hundred yards when the Sciddees & Government Forces dis- puted who should be in the rear when they attacked. The former insisted upon it as their right, as they were only auxiliaries ; the latter could urge nothing but that they were afraid to attack so desperate an enemy, upon hearing of which the Chief advising with Captains Crabb & Leeke, sent orders for all our forces to return immediately to their quarters, which they accordingly did. Captain Leeke and Ensign Forster being indisposed, desire permission to retire to the Factory, which was readily granted.

SDRAT DIARIES. 288

Wednesday, 7lh. — This evening the Chief ordered the mortar into the Factory, as the next day was determined for a general engagement) and no more forces to be kept within the gates than B sufficient number to guard the Sallie Ports from not being shut against our people in case of a forced retreat, & as also against any misfortune in the field. There was the greatest reason to ap» prehend the Sciddees would have rose in town in favour of the enemy, he then having 400 men with Suffdir Khan, who did not shew any want of courage in engaging against our troops, thd those of his forces that went out with them could never be prevailed on to draw a sword in Atchunds cause. Therefore Cap! Richard Crabb with all the Officers & Seamen landed from the " Durrington " were appointed to guard Nunsaree Gate with the Sallie Ports on each side thereof. Captains Govin, England, & Dick were appointed to head all the Military & Marine belonging to Bombay and Surat, excepting 20 which were to remain within the walls under the command of Cap *. Crabb.

Thursday, 8l*. — Agreeable to theResolution taken last night, our forces designed to march out were this morning by daybreak drawn out, but waited two hours till the Governor of the place came to the Chiefs quarters, and after that an hour longer for Sciddee Mossoot, who plainly shewed his disinclination to let his people go out as did Atchunds their want of resolution. When Atchund was given to understand that the necessity there was for the dispatch of our Grabs & Europe ship to Bombay, as likewise our small craft to the Northward, and our people falling down sick daily would not admit of any more mock parade, for which reason we had sent a great part of our artillery to the Factory in order to enable us in case of not coming to an engagement that day to retire from our quarters & leave them to fight their own battles, Atchund weighing the consequence of our retreat, by force of arguml and the distribution of money amongst hi9 own troops, prevailed with them to consent to take the field, and the Sciddee being acquainted that in case of any farther triffling excuses on his part he would be deemed as a common enemy, at last he consented to his peoples taking the field also. And at 9 o'clock in the forenoon they began to march, our Military & Bombay Seepoys under the command of Capl John Govin, the whole of the Marines under the command of Capl. George England with orders not to separate on any account for fear of treachery from the Sciddee. When the whole force were without the gate, there appeared a jealousy between Atchunds & the Sciddees people, & a dispute arose which of them should march in front, neither of them caring to mix together, which occasioned an halt & a message from our Commanding Officer (who had particular orders from the Chief to guard against treachery in the Sciddees forces) acquainting him that both the Government & the Sciddees people out of fear of each other had seated themselves on the ground & would march no further. As no delays could be thought of, or was there any appearance thereby of bringing the country people to resolution enough to engage the enemy, & the ill consequences of a retreat duly considered, orders were sent to our Officers to march on with our forces, but in case of any ill success from the disadvantage of ground aa well as difference in numbers (our whole force not amounting to 700 people, & the enemy being about eight times as many) to take care to retreat in a regular manner. On receipt of these orders our people marched on to a rising ground on the right hand of a Tank where there was a very large burying ground fenced round with a stone wall, above man bight, with loop holes for their small arms and cannon placed at the avenues. This place was filled with the enemys people, who from their advantageous situation gauled our people greatly as they ascended the hill, but from their resolute march and constant fire they had no sooner gained the ascent thereof, than the enemy in confusion

284 SVRAT DIARIES.

got some over the walls, others got at the openings and marched to another very strong bat- tery near, when our troops became masters of this place and the enemys cannon, which they spiked up, & then followed the enemy to the next battery, situated on a hill of so steep an ascent that it was with some difficulty they clambered up with their arms, the whole ground being covered with tombs. The two most noted officers with all their best troops being in this place gave them a very rough reception and there commenced a very warm dispute for the ground. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon Coja Abdull Summaids head was brought to the Nabob (who was then in consultation with the Chief at his quarters), the sight of whicb put the Nabob and his people about him in great spirrits, as they knew him to be the principal officer belonging to Suffdir Khan. After the loss of this man our people drove the enemy from the ground, but as they were sensible the whole depended on this days battle, rallied thrice within twenty yards of our forces headed by Sciad Hossein and the most faithful of Suffdir Khans slaves, intending if possible to have broke in upon our people sword in hand, by which we must have been greatly overpowered by numbers, especially after the hard labour of that day with- out the common refreshments, as Atchund had not command enough in town to oblige his sub- jects at the repeated intercession of the Chief to carry water &c± to the place of battle owing to the panic they were under. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Sciad Hossein was shot, after which very little resistance was made, when our officers considering how much fatigue the people had suffered in this engagement, the impossibility of getting the necessary assistance from town for keeping the field, & being likewise entirely unacquainted with the country, judged the enemy might effect that by craft in the night which they could not by force in the

day They by mutual consent sent & advised

the Chief of their situation, who paid Atchund the compliment to desire they might retreat, which he readily consented to, & both he and the Sciddee ordered their forces in likewise, tho neither of which had gone from the mouth of the Sallie Ports, but stood there in readiness to retreat in, in case of our peoples being defeated, notwithstanding which Atchund distri- buted large sums of money very liberally amongst his own troops which made our common people somewhat disatisfied, and in case of another engagement might have occasioned their not going to it with so good a will, as there was not a man among them wanting in duty as a brave Soldier or Seaman. To appease their too just complaints the Chief promised them Five hundred Rupees to be distributed amongst them, when they declared they were ready to engage any enemy under such officers as had headed them, Captains Covin, England, and Dick ; Ensigns Pil- lans & Tunge; Lieutenants of the Marine, Johnson, Keble, & Sach ; Masters of Gallivats, Tem- pleman, Grefsett, & Garbett ; Volunteers Watson & Batty, having all behaved in the most gallant manner possible. Cap*- Watson was wounded in the cheek by a musquet ball & received two or three more wounds by arrows, as was likewise Engineer Rowland by a ball, and several of our private people were dangerously wounded.

Received a letter from the Hon^ President & Council of Bombay acknowledging the receipt of our advices of the 20^ ulfL . They approve our having employed the Forces in support of Atchund in concurrence with the Principal Merchants, as also of our detaining the Grabs at the Bar. That on account of the cessation of arms with France they judge the Mer- chants here will choose the " Durrington" for freight to Mocha, but in case no appearance of any, they possitively order that we return her to them by the 20fcJl ins'-, that she may be dispatched so as to have time enough on the Mallabar Coast.

Monday, 18*1 December. — Suffdir Khan this day made offers of accommodation and desires to reside at our Gardens with an attendance of only 1 5 men under a guard of ours, Atchunds & the, Sciddees people. Several of our Soldiers & Seamen deserted this day to the Dutch. The Chief

SURAT DIARIES. 285

this day received a letter from Ml Charles Crommelin at Oambay, enclosing extract of a letter from Nassir Alii Khan at Dilly to Nahob Alii GovL of Cambay, mentioning that the Court are entirely dissatisfied that Suffdir Khan should have any share in this Government, and that a Synud will be sent from Court for Atchund to govern the Castle but that they intend to send some other person to preside in the Durbar.

Tuesday, 131Jl. — The Durbar has this day consented to a peace with Suffdir Khan on the following conditions. Atchund is to pay him ten thousand Rupees to pay off the arrears due to his soldiers, on receipt of which all the Batterys are to be demolished & the Cannon brought into Town, those belonging to the Crown to be returned to the places taken from, & those Suffdir Khans own property Meah Atchund to pay him for & take them into the Castle the 1 0000 Rupees advanced to be accounted for in this article. His small arms, ammunition, ele- phants &c± Atchund is to pay him for, or they are to be put up to public sale, which hereafter may be agreed on, and Suffdir Khan is this day to go & reside at Osman Chellaboys Garden, under a guard of the Governments, ours & the Sciddees people for the space of 12 days, &

then to embark for any

that assisted against him to guarantie his life, but in case of Suffdir Khans non-compliance with these conditions another engagement was agreed on tomorrow. This evening several cannon which the Dutch had lent Suffdir Khan were returned to their Bunder, as likewise one mortar, which could be only for show as they had no shells. Their Military in his service likewise returned.

Wednesday, 14% — This day Suffdir Khan began to demolish his Batteries and disband his forces, so that to all appearance he will be obliged to a peace, but begs a few days more to move himself.

Thursday, 15* ,— Dispatched the "Restoration" Grab to Bombay with all our sick & wounded Military & Marine capable of embarking. Wrote the Hon1!!? President & Council acknowledging the receipt of their commands of the 16*^ ult %. with those of the 24^, & 8*£ instant, the former per Ship " Durrington" & the latter per Express Boat. We acknowledge ourselves highly obliged to them for their approval of our employing the forces in support of Meah Atchund as also of our detaining the Grabs, & we have now the satisfaction to acquaint them of the success we have met with. That on the 4th ins*_ our forces engaged the enemy ; took three of their Batteries & nailed up seven of their Cannon, when we made a regular retreat. This was performed with the loss of only two Europeans & one Seepoy. That it was judged the enemy had 400 men killed & as mamy wounded. We were very desirous of pursuing this advantage but it was not until the 7* that we could come to another engagement, during which interval the enemy had repaired the above batteries & placed other cannon there, that the former we took, brought off three of the cannon & spiked tho rest, killed Coja Abdull Somite the head officer & Prime Counsellor as also Mirza Hossein a principal officer, & a number of private men. We had one European & one Topass killed. That Suffdir Khan having suffered so considerably in these two engagements & his people beginning to desert him, on the 10!*. he sent an officer into Town with proposals for an accommodation, and terms being agreed on, he has sent his elephants, cannon, powder, balls &°_? , & people are employed in destroying the batteries. He is permitted to reside at Ismaun Chellaboys Garden adjoining to ours for twenty days, after which he is to take passage on one of the Sciddees vessels for Jafferabad. That as we now look upon the troubles in some measures concluded, we therefore dispatch the " Restoration" Grab to your Honr__ &°%. in order to give convoy to the " Boneta" and such other vessels as may be ready to embrace it, and so soon as Suffdir Khan removes to the Garden we b 1255—72

2»6 SURAT DIARIES.

shall send away the Bombay Grab as also the " Durrington" by the limited time, but it will be

necessary to detain the " Drake" with Detachment and a Company of

until he embarks, which we hope their will approve of. That the ensuing

shall dispatch the sloop & ward, when Mr_ Price will pro- ceed for Cambay and Mess1! Crommelin and Scott shall have orders to come hither. That Manackjees agent has not yet applied to us for the Broad Cloth. When he does it shall be delivered to him, of which we shall advise their Hon1! kc± and debit the Presidency according- ly. That the Coral, Emeralds &c* have been delivered to the respective proprietors agreeable to the manifest. That publick Notice has been given that the sale of the Hon1^ ( Jompanys goods being put off till the 23<L insL, . That we again assembled the Merchants and endea- voured to prevail on them to freight on our Hon. Masters Ship " Durrington" to Mocha, but found it impracticable for the reasons we wrote their HonL &5? in our letter of the 20*A ult<L. Inclos'd a manifest of Diamonds laden on the " Restoration" Grab (as entered hereafter) and an Indent of Medicines wanted for the use of this Factory, which we hope their HonL.. &5? will comply with.

Manifest of Diamonds laden on board the " Restoration" Grab, CaptL. Tho'U Luke, and con- signed to the Hon^? William Wake, EsqE? .

Laden by Mr_ Solomon Franco one Bulee said to contain Diamonds value Rupees 23958-50, marked and numbered as per margin, to be delivered to MessrL Abraham & Jacob Franco in London, and is in full of the returns of Coral, Pearl, Silver & Bonds received per "Durrington" &2?

Friday, 16lA. — This day the Chief with all the Officers and Forces broke up their quarters and returned to the Factory.

Saturday, 1 7t}L — This day the Chief, with all the Officers & Forces broke up their quarters and returned to the Factory.

This day Suffdir Khan sent to the Chief to desire the liberty of the Hon. Companys Garden (as it immediately joined to Osman Chellaboys) till the time of his embarking, which was readily granted. And in the evening he went thither, great part of his cannon &5? being brought in the city and the rest bringing in by Atchunds people.

Sunday, 18% — Wrote a letter to Ml. Charles Crommelin at Cambay, advising him that the HonM? President & Council of Bombay had wrote us of his being a Member of their Board & directed us to send ML. William Andrew Price up thither to take charge of the Residency recalling Ml. Scott hither in his stead, but as ML Price cannot be ready to proceed these Springs (when our Sloop & Gallivats will sail to the N.ward), we therefore dispatch this to advise him thereof & to direct that he order ML. Scott hither with all convenient expedition, & likewise that he ship on board any boats lying at Cambay such part of the Hon^J? Companys investment as may be ready for which purpose the Contractors have given orders to their Agent.

Surat, Tuesday, 20^ December 1748. Dispatched the " Durrington " to Bombay, and by her addressed the Hon^ President and Council as follows : — Hon^ Sir & Sirs,

We addressed your HonL. &c^ on the 15!!? ins*L by the "Restoration," & this you will receive by our Hon^f Masters Ship the "Durrington," whom we now dispatch, as we have not been able to procure any freight for her here.

Since our last Suffdir Khan has removed from his Garden to ours, which we permitted him to reside at, as Osman Chellaboys was not commodious enough for him. Yesterday morning Sciddee Mossoot came to the Factory & acquainted us that as Suffdir Khan had now

SURAT DIARIES. 287

removed & was making up his affairs, he was very desirous of a speedy departure, provided he was allowed a passage on one of our Grabs to Scindy, which he earnestly requested we would gratify him in, as he rather chose proceed on our vessels than any others, which being IgreaUft to Meah Atchund, & all the Merchants and inhabitants of the place joining in Suffdir Khans request, we have consented to send the Bombay Grab, provided he embarks by the 25^, which we hope will meet with your Honr__ &??. approval, especially as it will prevent any further troubles in the City, which we have too much reason to apprehend the Dutch on the arrival of their ships would spirit Suffdir Khan up to commence again. He declares he is indebted to them upwards of R8 32000 for what supplied him during the late troubles, which they absolutely deny to save their credit, but we learn Munchur Adano is security for the payment. Was Suffdir Khan to take his passage on one of the Sciddees vessels as at first proposed, his departure might be protracted to a great length of time & during his continuance in the city the inhabitants could not be entirely free from some apprehensions. Therefore on the whole as the late troubles have cost us so much time & labour, we hope your HonL. &?* will approve of our finishing them by affording Suffdir Khan a passage on the Bombay Grab, which we can assure you nothing but the necessity there is for it could oblige us to consent to.

Inclosed is a Manifest of Diamonds laden on board the " Durrington" & our Cash acco*. for last months. We are very respectfully,

Honorable Sir & Sirs, Surat, 20* Decl 1748. Your most obedL h^ Serv*

THOMAS DORRILL. WILLIAM JOHNSON. GEORGE SADLIER. JA1 HENRY LAMBE. WM ANDW PRICE.

Sunday, 25^ December 1748. — This night near 12 o'clock Suffdir Khan embarked on board the Hon. Companys Bunder Pinnace to proceed to the Bar accompanied by MJL Jam8- Henr Lainbe & Capti_Govin & England.

Monday, 26ll. — This day M% James Henry Lambe returned from the Bar, with advice that Suffdir Khan got on board the Bombay Grab early this morning, and that when he came away the vessel was under sail for Scindy.

Rec^ a letter from the Honl^i President & Council of Bombay acknowledging receipt of ours of the 15^ per "Restoration" Grab. That it is satisfactory to find that tranquility is restored to this city by Suffdir Khans delivering up his guns, ammunition &°? to the GovL. Meah Atchund by which the Hon. Companys affairs seem to be freed of the danger that before threat- ened them ; but as his stay at Chellabhoys Garden, which is so near the Dutch, may prompt them to put him on such destructive measures as he has lately pursued, they approve of our detaining the "Drake" as likewise the Detachment of Military & Seepoys untill Suffdir Khans entire removal from their neighbourhood, and not withstanding our assisting Meah Atchund was for our own defence, yet we are to demand the expences we have been at on the occasion. That they will send us a copy of the List of Investment received per Ships " Durrington" & "Sheathan" as soon as we judge it may be safe to advance money to the Merchants, of which we are to advise them accordingly.

Friday, 30CL — Dispatched the " Drake" to Bombay & by her wrote the Hon^l? President & Council acknowledging receipt of their commands of the 14^1 & 21?JL insL. That we

288 SURAT DIARIES.

have with much difficulty been able to invest the sum of R3- 17795-0-72 in German Crowns which are ship'd on board the "Drake" as per Invoice enclosed which occasioned the detention of this vessel, otherwise she would have been dispatched to their HonL_ &c± immediately on Suffdir Khans departure, who embark'd the 26^ insL, & as the Ghenims still continue to stop the roads & distress the city on account of the promises made them during the late troubles, we have kept an Ensigns Detachment & a Company of Seepoys till we see how matters are likely to terminate. That we shall use our endeavours that the expences during the troubles are paid us by the GovL. & for what stores &5? supplied us by their Hon£_ &£* we shall be obliged by their furnishing us with the amoL. which we hope to recover likewise. Inclos'd a list of stores returned on the " Drake" & a list of what sums the Military who were up here are indebted to the officers, which at their request we have advanced Ensign Funge, & hope their HonL &^ will stop it out of the peoples wages at Bombay. That Meer Macnodeen Khan had sent 5000 RL. as a gratuity to our men for their gallant behavior & now desires the HontLe the President will be accountable for these two sums. That a list of such as are remaining here and were at the Camp we shall forward in a few days. The last days engagement the Chief, in order to encourage the people, gave them a promise of RL 500, which we shall add to the charges of the war. That as the troubles in this City are now over & trade we hope will soon flourish, we shall be obliged to their Honl_ &£5 for a list of their investment that we may give notice to the merchants for their delivering in proposals. That there are seven chests of German Crowns shipped on board the "Drake" the Invoice of which cannot now be got ready, but will be sent by Pattamar.

Tuesday, 11 _ December 1750. — deceived from Captain John Sanders the following report of his transactions during his being to the Northward : — W?L Sir & Sirs,

Agreeable to your orders I proceeded down the River to go in search of the Piratical Gal- livats belonging to Billimore. December 4lA — At \ past 2 p.m. came over the Barr two Gallivats belonging to our Fleet, at which time weighed and stood to the Westwi. in company the "Con- tent" Sloop, "Tyger" Schooner, "Lapwing" and "Swift" Gallivats, likewise two other Boats and a Pattamar Boat. At \ past 3 p.m. saw the Dutch fleet coming over the Barr and standing towards us. At \ past 4 p.m. anchored, the Northermost Land in sight N.N.E. \ E., and the ships in Surat Road E.N.E. off shore about 3 or 4 Leagues in about eleven & a half fathom water. At 4 past 3 a.m. the Dutch fleet joined us, consisting of 2 sloops and 3 boats. At midnight weighed and stood to the N.W. At 0 a.m. anchored Bugwa Trees E. by N. and the northermost land in sight. N. N. E. off shore about 2 Leagues. Looking into Bugwa & finding none of the Billimore Gallivats, consulted with Ml Zercies the Dutch Commander-in-Chief and agreed to make an attempt on the Cooleys at Suttanpore. At Noon weighed & stood to the N. W. These 24 hours the winds from N. to N. E. & N. December the 5^t — At sunsett Puram N. E. G N. the southermost land on western shore in sight. S. W. \ W. off shore about 3 or 4 miles. At 6 p.m. anchored in 9^ fathom water. At daylight Suttanpore hill N.therly & the extreams of the Land from N.N.E. to S.S.W. West off shore about 3 or 4 miles. At \ past 6 p.m. weighed & at \ past 7 anchored of Suttanpore River. Suttanpore Hill N. W. 6 W. West & the extreams of the Land from S. N. W. |W. to N. E. 6 N. off shore about 3 or 4 miles in three fathom water. At \ past 11 a.m. grounded, these 24 hours the wind from N. E. 6 N. to N.

December 6*Jl. — At 1 p.m. floated. At 3 p.m. the Sloop and Schooner & all our small Boats weighed and stood for the River, likewise the Dutch fleet saw 6 Gallivats to the Southward standing to the N. W. At \ past 4 the abovementioned fleet entered the mouth of the River. D?_ we weighed & stood further out and anchored in 4| fathom water.

N.B. — In this place of Suttanpore we left behind 40 sail of Gallivats which we could not come at for want of small Boats, besides what we burnt, which was the number of 12, besides

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2 Dingiys & one Boat we sunk, & burnt best part of their Town, which was little to our advantage by reason the Enemy entrenching themselves behind the Old Walls & in their houses and behind bushes. As fast as we beat them out of an Entrenchment they flew to others whieli

was a great disadvantage to our Forces. Agreed to back in this Skermish. The English and

Dutch stood well as did most of the Seepoys & we lost one Englishman. One had his right Eye shot out and 5 or G wounded, & the Dutch came oil' with much about the same loss. I can't see any great advantage in landing Forces in this place but to cover our Men in burning the Vessels by reason of their Old Houses, Walls, Forces, Hedges, and their close Entrench- ments. But I am really of opinion that a number of small Boats will do but to destroy all the private Boats, as their Forces can never do us any damage by land, & we can with ease burn them all with small Boats properly manned & provided with combustibles.

December 7th. — At £ past 7 p.m. came out of the River the "Sweft" and two more Gallivats belonging to our Fleet & thereof the Dutch Boats & anchored by us. At 5 a.m. anchored by us the " Content" Sloop, " Tyger" Schooner, " Lapwing" Gallivat, & a Pattamar Boat, likewise the Dutch Sloops. These 24 hours the wind from N. to S. W. G W.

DecL 8*, — At 2 p.m. weighed and stood to the eastward. At sunsett Suttanpore hill W. S ther^ & the extreams of the land from S. W. G S. to N. 6 E. \ E. off shore about 6 or 7 miles. Saw two Gallivats to the S. W. at 7 p.m., anchored in 15 fathom water at 2 a.m., weighed and stood to the eastward. At sunrise Broach Point N. N. E. & Bogwa Trees E. S. E. off shore about 6 or 7 miles. Saw two Gallivats standing into Broach River. At 7 D°. anchored and at \ past 7 weighed and stood to the southward. At noon Sually Point S. E. 6 E. and the Ships in the road S.S.E. off shore about 5 or G miles. These 24 hours the winds from N. to A. E. G N. & N.

December the 9^. — At 2 p.m. anchored in the Road. Domus Trees N. E. \ N., and Domud

Tomb N. G W. Joined riding in the Road the Sweedes Ship & three Moor Ships p.m.

the Dutch Sloops and the fleet weighed and stood into Domus. These 24 hours the winds from N. 6 W. to N. E. 6 E.

I am, W°, Sir & Sirs, Your most Obedt. Humble Serv*- JOHN SANDERS.

Surat, Friday, 12^ April 1751. At a Consultation, Present :

James Henry Lambe, Esq'?, Chief. Francis Pym William De La Garde

Robert Hunt Titus Scott.

This Meeting is called to take into consideration Meah Atchunds request of sending two of our Board to the Castle to confer with him, which being thought reasonable, Mess™ De La Garde and Hunt waited on him. The purport of what passed is entered at full after this Consultation. Agreed to dispatch a Pattamar with copy of the Conference to the Hony? President and Council, and also to advise them of Mahomed Bocar Cauns having, in behalf of his father Suffdir Caun, given leave for the Dutch to continue their works.

W. De La GARDE. TITUS SCOTT.

b 1255—73

290 SURAT DIARIES.

Friday, 12lL April 1751.— Report of MessI? De La Garde and Hunt their conference with Meah Atchund : —

After being received in a very friendly manner Meah Atchund represented to us the dis- tressed condition the Town was reduced to, through the Sciddies acting in open opposition to him, putting Ally Novas Caun in possession of the Durbar, and declaring Suffdar Caun Govr , & that he had no hopes of reducing his enemies & settling the Town in tranquility again without the assistance of the Honizl^ Company, by whose means he had been placed in the Govern*-, & that as he had not either before or since acted contrary to their interest, he hoped the Honb,c Company would still protect him. He likewise represented that the Sciddees attempting to bring in Suffdar Caun, in open defiance of the English, after having been so lately turned out by the Hony? Companys forces for his oppress^ of the Merchants of the Town & misbeha- viour towards them, was not only an instance of his presumption, but that if he succeeded must prove fatal to the Hon¥^ Companys affairs at this place as the Dutch had joined his party on promise of being permitted to build a fortress & enjoy particular priviledges.

In answer to all which he was assured that altUo the Hon™.e Company continued the same friendship for him as formerly, the lateness of the season and present occasion for their forces in other parts rendered it impossible for them (we feared) to afford him their assistance at this juncture otherwise than by their good offices as mediators. That therefore if he could think of any proposals for a Treaty towards settling the Town in tranquility and putting an end to the great calamities which the people laboured under, that in such case we should be earnest in endeavouring to a speedy and happy conclusion.

In reply to which he told us that he had no terms to propose that were likely to effect a peace with the Scidee, for that he was determined to defend himself in the Castle, and to the utmost of his power would endeavour to recover the Durbar, & still hoped the Hon^l? Com- pany would afford him their assistance, as the most effectual means of finishing the troubles, without which he intended that his extremities might be a means of the Castle falling into the hands of his enemies, rather than which he offered to deliver the Castle into the Hon^ Com- panys possession with all its revenues provided they would agree to put him in possession of the Durbar. This we told him was a proposal we could not listen to, but he strenuously insisted that we should recommend it to the Hon^1? President and Councils consideration, and get a speedy answer, & then dispatched us with the strongest injunctions to secrecy & insisted on having Ml_ Lambes & the rest of the Gentlemens answers sent him the next day.

Surat, 12% Apil 1751. W. De La GARDE.

R. HUNT.

Saturday, 13lh April. — Upon our Moodys being sent this day to give the answer which Atchund made Messr? De La Garde and Hunt promise yesterday, & to desire to know whether he had any terms of peace to propose, he again begged we would write the Hon^le President and Council of the proposal he made yesterday that he was desirous to give up the Castle with all its revenues, provided only they would only engage to fix him in the Durbar.

SURAT DIARIES. 291

Addressed the IlonW? President & Council of Bombay as follows : —

HonbJ5 Sir & Sirs,

Our last respects to your HonJL &c±_ bore date the 9J^ instant.

It is now publickly reported in Town that the Dutch have agreed to introduce Suffdir Caun

into the Government of the Town on condition that he shall give them a the same

as the Hon'^e Company, to pay only 10000 Rupees annually in lieu of customes, & that they have permission granted them to build on their Wharf such works as they shall think proper and land all their goods there, and it's said the Sidee and Suffdir Cauns slaves have given them a written Grant for these three articles on his behalf, on which they publickly assisted his party with Powder and Shott, & the day they were engaged Muncher and several Dutch servants were publickly seen delivering them out Ammunition, Water & Provisions.

Both the Scidees and Muncher Curset the Dutch Broker give out they are informed from Bombay by Coja Vertancis of the purport of all orders, and that our .... are tied. They have since the troubles despatched three Pattamars to Vertancis, which is well known to the whole Town. Did not such reports as these prevail, we imagine by our mediation a speedy accommodation might be brought about between the two parties. The Scidees party are daily attempting to raise Batteries against the Castle, but hitherto Meah Atchund has prevented them by the fire of his great Guns from thence, by which many of their men are daily killed.

Yesterday at Atchunds earnest request Mess1!. De La Garde & Hunt waited on him in the Castle. The purport of what passed goes enclosed in a Paper apart. This day on the Moodys being sent to him, he repeated the proposal in the said Paper.

The Scidees aim, it is said, is to fix himself in the Castle and shake off his allegiance to Rajapore, & by means of his fleet and Castle to keep the Gov.*, of the Town continually in awe.

Yesterday morning Mahomed Bocar Caun, on behalf of his father Suffdar Caun, gave leave and orders to the Bricklayers to work on the Dutch Wall, & they have this day actually began to sift and mix up the chunam.

We are with great respect, Hon"? Sir & Sirs, Y_L Most ObdJ_ Humble Servants, T. H. LAMBE. T. PYM.

W. De La GARDE. B. HUNT. T. SCOTT.

Thursday, 18(Jl April 1751. — Received the following letter from the Hon^? the President & Council of Bombay : —

Sirs,

Just as we had closed our letter of yesterdays date by the Bombay Grab (Duplicate whereof is enclosed) we received yours of the 5th; instant per Pattamar Express, by which we observe Atchund and the Scidee are at last come to an open rupture, in which situation of affairs as you say that you have forces sufficient to defend yourselves & the Hon"* Companys Factory we would have you observe a strict neutrality, & on no account engage yourselves as principals

292 SURAT DIARIES.

on either side, as we cannot at present spare any more forces to support you nor have we con- veyances to send them could they be spared.

We are Sirs, Bombay Castle, 10^ April 1751. Your loving Friends,

R. BOURCHIER. G. SCOTT. W. MACKENZIE. T. LANE. C. CROMMELIN. D. GRAVES.

Thursday, 25^ April 1751. — Received the following letter from the HoaM? President & Council of Bombay : — Sirs, We wrote you under the 9*!l and 10:* instant, the former of which went by the Bombay Grab, & the latter per Pattamar, & on the 12*. received yours of the 6* as we did that of the 9* on the 16*.

From what you write us of the situation of affairs, there is but too much reason to believe that the Scidee will carry his point in replacing Suffdir Caun in the Government of Surat, nor is it in our power at this time to act openly in the obstruction of it, having no forces to spare, and if we had it would be impossible to send them from the lateness of the season. We can there- fore only repeat what we wrote you in our , that as you judge you have sufficient forces

to defend yourselves, you are to observe a strict neutrality, & by no means engage as parties on either side.

We have met with a ship lately imported here, which will serve for Persia, so that you need not look for any other.

We are, Sirs, Bombay Castle, 18li April 1751. ' Your Loving Friends,

R. BOUCIIIER. G. SCOTT. W. MACKENZIE. W. SEDGWICKE. T. LAMB.

C. CROMMELIN. H. SYMMONS.

D. GRA.VES. Sailed from the barr the ship " Juddah Merchant," Captain John Vinson, for Bombay.

Sunday, 28!!l. — Addressed the Hon^S President & Council of Bombay as follows : — Hon^i Sir & Sirs,

We addressed your Honor &cfT_ yesterday per Ship " Juddah Merchant," & this is purposely to advise you that in the evening the Chief reel a message from Meah Atchund acquainting him that upon his having intelligence that three of his officers who had the charge of the Castle Gate had a design to deliver it up to the Scidee, that he had thereupon confined them and the same evening intercepted letters from the Scidee to the said officers, which confirmed

SURAT DIARIES. 293

it, & found that the Scidees attacking the Castle the 26* in the morning so hriskly was owing to the promise he had heen made hy the said officers of delivering to him the Gate without opposition, which he fortunately prevented hy his intelligence of this design, & killed about forty of the Scidees men in the attack.

Hon^l Sir & Sirs, Y-L Most Obd* Humble Serv* P. S. — MJL Price arrived here yesterday from T. H. LAMI3E.

Cambay & now goes down the river in T. PYM.

hopes of getting a passage to the Presi- W. De La GARDE,

dency on the Bombay Grab. R. HUNT.

T. SCOTT.

Received the following letters from the Hon^? President & Council of Bombay : —

Sirs,

We wrote you by Pattamar under the 18* ins*. & the same night yours of the 13* came to hand.

We are greatly surprised to find Coja Vertanus accused of carrying on a private corre- spondence with the Scidee and Muncher to the Hon^!5 Companys prejudice, but should be much more so did you give us any reason to believe it to be true, which if it were, they who reaped the sole advantage of that correspondence could never be so indiscreet as to publish the authors themselves, which must put an entire stop to it, & indeed seems a clear evidence of the mans innocence and the malice of his enemies. However, as you say such a report has been spread, we would have you use all means in your power to detect him if possible.

You tell us was it not for such reports as this, you make no doubt but you should be able by your mediation to accommodate matters between both parties. This we remark as you never yet acquainted us of your having made any overtures to the Scedee and his party for an accommodation.

Meachunds proposal of putting us in possession of the Castle & its revenues, on condi- tion we settle him in the Durbar must unavoidably engage us as a party in a warr which at this time of the year we are by no means able to support, having no vessels to transport any forces

were we able to send them, neither do you acquaint us what those revenues are or

whether they would answer the undertaking. Things of such consequence require your being much fuller.

We cannot doubt but you will use all means in your power to prevent the Dutch carrying neither fortifications, or getting any grants which may be of any validity, which we cant think any obtained from this rabble can be.

We are, Bombay Castle, 20% April 1751. YJL loving Friends,

R. BOUCHIER. G. SCOTT. W. SEDGWICKK T. LANE.

C. CROMMELIN. H. SYMMONS.

D. GRAVES. A. DOUGLAS.

b 1255—74

294 SURA T DIARIES.

Wednesday, 1* May 1 75 1 .—Addressed the llon^? President & Council of Bombay as follows: —

IIon«£ Sir & Sirs,

We addressed your HonJl &™ last the 28^ instant, & the same day came to hand your commands of the 20*^.

What we wrote of Coja Vertanus, we did not design as an accusation of him ; but as those reports prevailed, we thought it our duty to mention them to your Hon! &c* as the purport of any correspondence between private persons, and the keeling party here may be easier found out at Bombay than at this place.

Before Mess I! De la Garde and Hunt went to the Castle we informed the Scidee of their going thither and desired to know if he had any proposals of peace to make to Atchund. He answered no: that he wanted first to be informed what Atchund had to propose.

If his proposals are accepted Meah Atchund will give the Hon^? Company the Revenues of the Castle which were formerly 100000 Rupees per annum arising from the rents of four villages, but since the ......... are grown so powerful in these parts, those rents are reduced to 22000,

& 100U0 Rupees more is now paid by the Gov J of the Town, and the Scidees Tanka which is a certain fixed proportion of the Customs & other Revenues, was formerly 300000 Rupees per annum, but is now reduced to from 165000 to 175000 Rupees per annum, through the decay of Trade. And for both these and the Government of the Castle the Moguls Phirmaund we judge may be easily procured. The possession of the Castle would put the Hon'ilf Companys affairs and the English trade in this City on a very firm footing.

We shall carefully watch every opportunity that offers to prevent the Dutch carrying on their works, but unless the Gov JL of the Town is a friend to the English it will be entirely out of our power to prevent it.

Yesterday the Scidee desired that the principal Merchants might come to the factory in order to confer about setling the Town, and accordingly they came, but instead of making any proposals they only asked us why we put the Factory in a posture of defence. We answered that circumstances of affairs required it, & assured them of our earnest desire to enable Peace, desiring them to go back to the Scidie, & consider with him of some method of setling the Town & return to us with his proposals. This day they went to him, when the Sidee desired them to meet at Seiad Zeens to consult about it, but first insisted that the first proposal they shou'd make shou'd be his being put in possession of the Castle. Upon which the merchants declared to him that it seemed to them that the English had intentions to make Peace, of which this his proposal had not the appearance, & immediately took their leave and went home.

We are with great respect,

Hon1*? Sir & Sirs, YjLmost obdl humble Servi!,

T. H. LAMBE.

T. PYM.

W. De La GARDE.

R. HUNT.

T. SCOTT.

SVRAT DIARIES. 295

Surat, Friday, 3d. May 1751.

At a Consultation, Present :

James Ilenry Lambe, Esq_l, Chief.

Francis Pym. Robert J hint.

William De La Garde. Titus Scott.

This meeting is called to consider whether it wou'd not be eligible to open a letter that came the 19*. ult °. with an anonymous direction under Coja Vartanus's seal but said by the Pattamar to be for Nasserwanjees house (which had been detained ever since on suspicion) for that Nasserwanjees Agent had several times been enquiring after it with some earnestness. Taking therefore into consideration the pernicious consequences of such a correspondence as we had heard of was carrying on from Vertanus to the Scidee and Muncher the Dutch Broker, both known enemies to the English, the former not only acted tracheriously by the Hon"? Com- pany in the late troubles, but is now by force introducing Suffdar Caun again into this Governm*, and the latter ever since he was turned out of the IIon!^£ Companys protection has endeav^. by the vilist arts to disturb their trade at Surat, and for his indefatigableness herein was made by the late Dutch Directore (just before he went away) their Companys Broker. This being duly weighed, we unanimously agreed to open the letter. And calling in the Moody to trans- late it, & asking him if he knew the hand writing, he said there were two separate letters which having read, the first he knew to be the hand writing of Sorabjee (Nasserwanjees writer) & the other Nasserwanjees own writing. These letters to be entered after this Consultation with Notes to explain what appears to us to be meant in the feigned characters used in them. As Muncher is known to have assisted Vertanus with letters of credit to Broach, it plainly ap- pears he is the person to whom the letters are adressed. Therefore to prevent any further ill consequences from such a tracherious correspondence, it is resolved to dispatch immediately advice hereof to the Ilon1^ the President and Council of Bombay.

Having great reason to believe there are ill designs against the Factory, & the Honb.\e Pre- sident & Council having wrote us that they cannot send any Force from Bombay at this season, it is agreed to enlist a number of Seepoys.

FRANCIS PYM. W. De La GARDE.

T. SCOTT.

Wednesday, 29% May 1 7 51.— Received the following letter from the Hon"? President and Council of Bombay : —

Sir,

This we despatch by Pattamar to advise you that the Chiefs letter to the Hon^ the Pre- sident relating to our taking possession of the Castle provided Atchund can no longer maintain it, has been laid before the Board, & which having been duly weighed & considered, we are of opinion that such a step requires the greatest caution & conduct, & ought not on any considera- tion be entered into by us so long as it can possibly be avoided, but if Atchund shou'd be so hard pressed as not to be able to hold out any longer against the enemy, we permit you to take

296

SURAT DIARIES.

possession of the Castle in the Moguls name & then only at Atchunds particular request, and upon his entering into a written obligation to defray all expenses. You must also have the concurrence of the whole body of Merchants by attestation under their seals. Although we have given you the above latitude, you are not to be too sanguine or hasty in putting it into exe- cution, but wait untill matters are carried to the very last extremity, when it becoming unavoi- dable for us to remain Neuter. We judge it more for the Hon^£ Companys interest & honour for you to take possession of it untill we hear from Court, than to let it fall into the hands of Scidde Mossoot, from whose behaviour since the commencement of the War, we have great reason to apprehend that should he get into quiet possession of the Government, we shall not be able to carry on our Trade in that free and reputable manner as is consistent with the

Hon1^ Companys honour and their above all things is absolutely

necessary & which we recommend to you, for shou'd it come to the knowledge of the Scidee, the Hon1^ Companys efforts and your own levis may be endangered, and as you are on the spot we leave it to you to act as may be most conducive to the Hon^l? Companys interest & as circumstances may require ; but as above, strictly enjoin you not to engage in the troubles untill matters are carried to the very last extremity and Atchund can hold out no longer. We would not have you enter into any engagement for fixing him in the Durbar, as. we judge the Force you have with you not sufficient to effect it, for by deviding them into small parties they run a risque of being cut off. You must also be careful of Scidee Mossoot, as the Hon!*? the President has lately intercepted a letter from his Agent here, wherein he advises the Scidee to cut off the detachment lately sent to Surat in their passage up the river.

Bombay Castle, 23 ± May 1751,

We are YJL Loving Friends,

R. BOURCHIER. G. SCOTT. T. LANE. C. CROMMELIN. H. SIMMONS. A. DOUGLAS.

Thursday, 6^ June 1751. — Received the following letter from the Hon'if President and Council of Bombay : —

Sir,

In regard to the present unhappy situation of affairs at Surat, we have already given you our sentiments so fully under the 24 ^ instant, that we shall not at present enlarge thereon, although we cannot help saying that your entering so large a number of the Country Soldiers is very extraordinary, and we think unnecessary, as it is putting the Hon^£ Company to a large expence for people whose fidelity in case of your being attacked cannot be depended upon, as in all probability they would be influenced or intimidated by the opposite parties seizing their families.

As Coja Vertanus is the Contractor for the Hon!^ Companys investment, we do not chuse to make public inquiry concerning the letters you sent us, as it might hurt his credit at this juncture, but we have severely repreinanded him. We approve of your seizing those letters,

SURAT DIARIES. 297

and whenever you may have cause to suspect any thing of the like nature we would have you act conformably.

We are Sirs, Bombay Castle, g9* May 1751. YJL Loving Friends,

T. LANE. 0. CROMMELIN. R. BOURCHIER. G. SCOTT.

Thursday, 6'* June 1751. — This night a Treaty was concluded between us and Begler Caun otherwise Bocar Caun, and Hoffice Mossoot Caun, as follows : —

Translate of a Writing given this day to Begler Caun, otherwise Bocar Caun, and Hoffice Mossoot Caun, its counterpart being by them signed & given to us, witnessed by the French and Dutch Chiefs : —

Begler Caun & Hoffice Mossoot Caun on the Kings side having had a with

M.L Lambe, Mjl Bouear used his good offices as Mediator between them, and it is hereby agreed that Ml Lambe shall not in any manner assist Manodeen Caun or send people to the

Castle.

MJL Lambe is in possession of the key of Mulnas Gate, which we have demanded of him, when it was agreed that four of our people shou'd sit down at the Gate, and one belong.?, to Ml Boucard, & that the Governour of Bombay shall be wrote to for his order if the key must be given up. If an answer thereto does not come soon, all who sign here to oblige them- selves to send a Pattamer & write a second time. To this the Dutch and French Chiefs sign as witnesses.

Copy of a Paper given to Begler Caun and Scidee Mossoot Caun : —

Ml Lambe, Chief & Council for the English Company, having lately had an engage- ment with Begler Caun & Hoffice Mossoot Caun, declare hereby that neither the Company or their Dependants goods have been lost therein, no more than those of the other party, & therefore this writing is to signifie that neither party have been sufferers thereby.

T. H. LAMBE.

T. PYM.

W. De La GARDE.

R. HUNT.

T. SCOTT.

Tuesday, 11% June 1751.— This day the Scidee caused a Drum to be beat about Town publick- ly forbidding Peons or servants of any kind to enter our service, and at the same time put the Butchers &5? under obligations in writtingnot to supply us with Meat or Provisions of any sort. b 1255—75

298 SURAT DIARIES.

Friday, 14^L. — The Scidee sent to the Chief by the hands of MonsJL Bouoard the abovemen- tioned writings for the Butchers &£? denying their having been given by his order, but said it was done by Wotalahs (one of his Dependants) without his knowledge, as he himself had only forbid Peons entering into our service.

Saturday, 15lA. — Addressed the Hon^l? President & Council of Bombay as follows : —

Hon!*e Sir & Sirs,

Our address of the 11 ij1 was closed and just upon dispatch when the Scidee ordered a Batna to be beat through the town forbidding every body to serve us in any capacity what- ever & forbidding the supplying us with necessaries of any kind. This we desired M:r_ Boucard to represent to the Scidee was very extraordinary & inconsistent with the terms of Peace we had mutually entered into, who upon his return acquainted us that the Scidee declared he had given orders only for no sepoys to enlist in our service, & Mil Boucard acquainting us likewise that the Scidee had hinted to him that one of the Gentlemen being sent to him wou'd be very agreeable and remove all suspicion, we accordingly determined to send Ml. De La Garde to him yesterday, who was received in a very courteous manner by the Scidee and Scidee Mufta. They both expressed themselves concerned at the late Skermish, & declared they were sincerely desirous of continuing in friendship with the Hon!ie Company, particularly the Scidee, who mentioned the obligations his master was under for the assistance which the Hon!** Comp I had afforded him on many occasions. M * De La Garde took leave with assuring him that we intended to observe the engagement we had entered into, & that we expected he wou'd do the same, and that we shou'd readily use our good offices to accommodate matters between him and Meah Atchund.

We are with the greatest Respect, Hon"? Sir & Sirs, YJL Most obd± & H"e Servants,

T. H. LAMBE.

T. PYM.

W. De La GARDE,

R. HUNT.

T. SCOTT.

Tuesday, 2 A July 1751. — Translates of two letters to the Chief received this day fromDilly : —

His Majesty having been pleased to appoint Abdul Baky Oaun to the Government of Surat, he will set out from hence for that place in a few days. I have been greatly assisting to pro- cure a Synod for Manodeen Caun, but cannot succeed, which I have wrote both to him and his Duan. So long I have kept the Castle Government in the name of Manodeen Cauns son Meer Hoffice Uldeen Ahmed Caun. I now hear that war is begun at Surat, & that many guns are fired, & that the inhabitants greatly suffer, & fearing the end that the Kings city will be plun- dered, I therefore desire that you will perswade Manodeen Caun to desist from firing, and sit down quietly in the Castle, giving up all thoughts of the Government of the Town, to take which Baky Caun is coming from Dilly ; therefore let them cease fighting, which will be better for the City and the Gate of Mecca. It's not a proper time for fighting. The Nabob Mudget Dolla sent for me and ordered me to write this letter, therefore I desire you will pay due regard to it.

SUEAT DIARIES. 299

My son Mosun is in the Castle. He has not seen the world nor been in any warrs. I am there. fore night and day uneasy on his account. As I have only this son, I am afraid he will fall sick. I therefore desire you will look on him as your son & send for him from the Castle & keep him with you.

I enclose you copy of a Purwana for the Government with the Viziers seal, in which it's ordered by his Majesty that till the arrival of Baky Caun, some good man who is agreeable to the inhabitants (if you please Sorab Cauns son, or any other you like with the advice of Hoffice Mossoot Caun, Pharris Caun, and other the Kings officers) be appointed to act as Governour & take care of the Town.

Letter from Abdul Baky Caun received with the above : —

His Majesty being informed that a warr is commenced in Surat and that damages daily happen to the city by the firing of Cannon and burning of houses, the Nabobs Amer ul Amia Badour Sum Samuel Dola Badour & Mudget Udola Badour being friends of Sorab Caun my father-in-law, have through their intercession procured me an order for the Government of Surat. You have now sent you a letter with the Viziers seal. The Vizier has ordered Calsa Duan to send for Hady Caun, Atchunds Vakeel, and Scidee Mossoots Vakeel, & ordered them to write to Atchund & the Scidee that they must give up the Government of the Town to me. Copy of the Viziers order with the Cozees seal accompanys this. My friends hurry me much to get away, so shall set out in two or three days. I am desirous of doing good both to the Town and its inhabi- tants & have therefore wrote to Hoffice Mossoot Caun to deliver over the Government of the Town to Sorab Cauns son till my arrival or such man as he and the inhabitants may .... upon with your advice. Any good man from among the Kings officers will do. Please God, I shall be with you in a few days and do what is best for the Town and its Inhabitants.

I desire you, Hoffice Mossoot Caun & Pharris Caun, will meet and put a good man in the Government of this place, & I will do more for you than any of my predecessors, and do nothing without your advice, of which I desire you will rest assured.

Copy of a Purwana the original of which is said to be under the Viziers Seal; this has the Cozees Seal to it : —

Vazier Abdul Munsoor Caun to Mr_ Lambe, English Chief at Surat, Greeting.

Manodeen Caun is dismissed from the Government of Surat, and it is given to Sum Sam Uldola, who has appointed for his Naib Abdul Baky Caun, who will soon set out from hence. Till he comes it is ordered that Sorab Cauns son or any good man from the Kings officers who is agreeable to the inhabitants be placed in the Government, and you are desired with Hoffice Mossoot Caun, Pharris Caun, and the Merchants to perform this, and put an end to the firing guns between the two present contending parties, now the order for the Government of the Castle is in the name of Meer Hoffice Uldeen Ahmud Caun, whom you are desired to assist and countenance.

Dilly the 14— day °f Rejub in the 4% year of Ei$ Majesil. Reign.

Friday, 5'} July 1751. — Addressed the Hon'^ President and Council of Bombay as follows : —

We addressed your Hon I &^ last under the 26^ ttlti, since which 4 English men that

were in the service of the French arrived here from Aurangabad, who give an account that on

300 SURAT DIARIES.

the 15!^ June 300 French and 100 Caffries arrived there with Nasserjungs Brother as

in his service. Each private French man is allowed a rupee a day, besides his pro- visions & the officers proportionally, and at the entering every Town great Largesses are given them over and above their Pay. They have with them six field pieces, about 3 Pounders & an 8-inch mortar. These men that are come hither say that Nusserjungs Brother with his army has to remain 4 months at Aurangabad, & then to go upon some expedition about which there were various reports, but that there was a talk among the French of coming this way. We have entertained the four men abovementioned and one, which arrived last night, as Seamen on board the " Content " sloop, having much want of them on board her at this time.

The 2i instant the Chief received a packet of letters from Dilly, in which were two for himself, translates of which now go enclosed, also copy of the Veziers order under the Cazees seal, appointing Baky Caun Gov2 of the Town & 2 for Sciad Manodeen Caun & two for the Scidee, sent by Coja Aremand Lalldass Vanarsidass, two of the principal Merchants, who upon their return acquainted us that the Scidee said these letters cou'd not be authentic as he had very lately received a Commission for Suffdir Caun, which he said shou'd be made publik very shortly. He likewise pretended to them to be very desirous of continuing in friendship with the English, and observed to them that he himself had taken much pains to restrain his people from commencing the late skermish, but that he cou'd not stop them. He complained to them much of his Agents being turned off by the HonbJLe the President in so disgraceful a manner, as he said only for writing him that he might safely proceed in his designs, for that there cou'd not be spared a force sufficient from Bombay to obstruct them, & added that the long friend- ship between the Honl?_ Company & Rajapore was now broke. He declared to them that he was in hearty expectation of becoming master of the Castle, & told them that he had therefore lately withdrawn all the people belonging to Ally Navas Caun, & the rest of Suffdar Cauns party from the Batteries round the Castle, and placed those that are immediately in his service in their room, which has occasioned that party to be very much dissatisfied. These as well as many other circumstances makes it generally believed that he not only designs to make himself Governor of the Castle but of the Town also.

We impatiently wait your HonJL &~ positive orders how we are to act, as we have not received a line since your commands of the 29^ May, and suppose therefore letters must have

been entercepted by the Scidee and people, whom we have been long advised are

placed all along the common roads. We therefore request your Hon I &55 will despatch a Pattamar Boat (as that may be very conveniently done) to us with your commands as soon as possible.

We are with great respect, Hon!^ Sir & Sirs, Y_L Most obedl humble servL, T. H. LAMBE. T.. PYM.

W. De La GARDE. R. HUNT.

SURAT DIARIES. 301

Sunday, 7,h July 1751. — Received the following letter from the Honll1? President and Council of Bombay : —

Sirs, The 21?* instant we received your letter of the 11* with copies of those to Captain Sterling, Lieul Levich, and Ensign Tunge, & their answers to you.

The amount of the cable supplied the "Drake" shall be paid to Captain Hough, as we have not any one by us of Laccadiva coir.

' It is surprising that as you know yourselves to be in an error in marcking the Investment

wrong pro Anno 1749, you shou'd be guilty of the in that for the year 1750 which has

occasioned our Invoicing them wrong to England, therefore send us as soon as possible state of those Investments and account current with the contractors.

For want of your sending us a duplicate of your advices of the 6^1 instant and copy of the Treaty with Scidee Mossoot (which was a great neglect) we cannot form any suitable judgement of the situation of affairs at Surat. But we advise you at all events not to deliver up the key of the Water Gate, as it will entirely cut off all communications with your vessels & likewise as it concurrs in opinion with your Officers, who we are concerned to observe you shou'd have any difference, more especially at this critical juncture when unanimity is so highly necessary and incumbment for your mutual safety. With regard to sending you any recruits or stores as you desire, you well know it is impracticable for us to effect it at this season of the year, and indeed we think the force you have fully sufficient to defend the Factory, therefore cannot approve of your enlisting any more Seepoys. As you do not acknowledge the receipt of our letter of the 23.*. ultJL we now enclosed duplicate thereof.

Being in want of Venetians for the Coast we direct you to purchase 10000 if to be bought at or under 4*5 ans., sending them hither by the first safe conveyance. We are,

Sirs, Your Loving Friends, Bombay Castle, 86% June 1751. R. BOURCHIER.

G. SCOTT. W. SEDGWICKE. C. CROMMELIN. H. SYMMONS.

Saturday 20% — Received the following letter from the Hon^? the President and Council of Bombay : — Sirs,

We wrote you last the 26th ult^., duplicate of which we dispatched the 28* . On 1?* instant came to hand your letters of the 11$ and 15*i June with the several papers enclosed.

We approve of the writing you have given Begler Caun and Scidee Mossoot not to assist Manedeen Caun, it being conformable to our repeated orders to you to observe a strickt neutra- lity and not make yourselves a party unnecesarily ; indeed we sincerely wis?h you cou'd by any means contribute towards the settling of the tranquility of the Town by using your good offices between the contending parties. We do not apprehend any great inconvenience can arise from Scidee Mossoots having four people at the Water Gate, if he does not insist on more, but agreeable to what we have already wrote you, you are not to deliver up the key, con-

b 1255— 7S

302 SUB AT DIARIES.

cerning which the Hon1*8 the President now writes him. "We hope you have taken coun- terpart of the writing you have given Begler Caun & Scidee Mossoot, that neither you nor they have suffered by the late engagement, which if not done, you must insist upon having it from them. We cannot help observing to you that the late skermish has happened entirely by your permitting your people to straggle about the streets, which is highly improper in these confused times.

We are your Loving Friends, Bombay Castle, 34 July 1751. R. BOURCHIER.

W. MACKENZIE, T. LANE.

Tuesday, 23^ July 1751. — Addressed the Hon^f President & Council of Bombay as follows: HonWf Sir & Sirs,

We are sorry for our omission in not sending duplicates of our letters of the 6*L and II* ult^. The former was of little consequence, & the latter with the agreement the Scidee sent, & therefore we judged he wou'd take care to send it by a safe hand, & that it shou'd arrive in a short time.

As your Hon I. &E? are pleased to direct, we shall keep possession of the "Water Gate as long as it is in our power.

"Venetians are now at 4'6 ans. & not likely to fall, very few being expected from the Red Sea.

This being the proper season of the year, we have endeavoured to make sale of the Coa- trombo consigned us on the "True Briton," but it's with concern we are to acquaint your Hon.! &£? that we can get no more offered for it than Ri. 3 per Mi though it's invoiced at 18 Rupees. We shall therefore wait your directl concerning it.

There seems to be no probability of Atchund and the Scidees comming to an accomodation, as the Scidee insists on the Castle being delivered up to him, k yesterday a conspiracy was brought to light in that place, three Hopsey officers in Atchunds service having agreed to> deliver up the largest Battery (called the Kings Battery) to the Scidees people and to assassi- nate Atchund. In attempting the latter, one of them was killed, & the other two made prisoners.

Our soldier who was wounded by the Scidees people was coming from church. None of them are suffered to go out but upon such occasions, & to purchase necessaries, tho' their close confinement makes them fall down, there being now 42 soldiers & 43 sepoys in the Hospital.

The Presidents letter to the Scidee was sent him soon after his arrival.

The 20!^ came to hand your Commands of the 3 *.. We have got a counterpart of the writing given the Scidee & Begler Caun under the Cazees seal.

We are with great respect, Bombay Castle, 1751. Honbi? Sir & Sirs,

Y L Most obedl Humble Servants, T. H. LAMBE. T. PYM. R. HUNT. T. SCOTT.

SXJRAT DIARIES. 303

Surat, Thursday, SO'A. April 1 752.

Dispatched pi. Pattamar Boat a letter to the President and Council at Bombay as agreed on in yesterdays Consultation extracted as follows : —

That we had receiv'd from the Government fourteen thousand (14000) rupees in part of the two lacks stipulated in the late Treaty for reimbursing the expenses incurr'd by the H 2. Company in the troubles.

Sciddee Hoffis Mossoot Caun, Gov I of the Castle, and Suffdir Caun, Gov.? of the Town, having for several days sent messages to the Chief, desiring he would meet some of the prin- cipal merchants of the town to consider with them how to raise the two and a quarter lacks of rupees they had been obliged to promise the Marattas, in such a manner as might be most easy and agreeable to the inhabitants, and expeditious in the collecting, as twenty days had elapsed and the money is to be paid in forty more ; the merchants likewise sent word to the Chief that they had allways esteemed the English as their head and best friends, we having on all occasions assisted them in their distresses, and now desired the Chief would permit them to come to the Factory and consult how to satisfie the pressing demands the Government made on the city; the Chief finding them so pressing and judging a refusal might not only disgust, but drive them to make the same application to the Dutch, he complied with their request, and for the two preceeding days they came, when was present Sallee Chellaby, Mulna Amodeen, Mirza Abdull Cream, Mirza Askany, Coja Stephen, Coja Azum, Saibru Teekchund Cuttaree, Coja Abdull Wal, Venarsy Teddas head Shroff, Kessoor Vellul Shroff, Cullamull Cuttaree, Coja Akbur, and Usman Chellaby. They at first represented that the Sciddee was inclined to lay a Gen I Tax on the inhabitants, which would be extreamly oppressive, for through the rapaciousness of the Collectors and the avarice of the Government, the people would pay from five to six lacks instead of two and a quarter, and it was in order to prevent this evil, they had desired to consult with the Chief, and hoped they should find some method of getting this money in a more gentle manner. After long considering, they at last pitched upon two ways which would bring in about one and a quarter lack of rupees in a years time : one was to collect dutys on all goods brought from other parts of the Mogulls Dominions, which otherwise would be Custom free, having a Doeela (or Certificate) to excuse them, and this they judged would produce about fifty thousand ; the other way was to raise the Maccat (a duty on all provisions and goods sold and expended within the town) half as much more as it is at present, which they reckon'd would bring in about seventy five thousand more, and for the remainder they would afterwards think of some other means ; but they judged it proper the Sciddee should first be acquainted with what they had already done, and accord- ingly he came this morning to the Factory attended with the Merchants before mentioned, when being informed of all that had passed, he run on a long time with the necessity he lay under to discharge the two and a quarter lacks of rupees he had been forced to promise the Marattas, and how much he was inclined to ease the inhabitants by collecting it in the most gentle manner. But as to the Maccat he could not agree to raise it, as he fully resolved on the new moon to take off that duty entirely, and he thought the best way would be to lay a tax on every house in Town which would bring in the money and hardly be felt. The Chief then represented to him, that as he intended to take off the Maccat, the continuing it one year longer and appropriating the whole to the present occasion would be no loss to him, and the inhabitants would more chearfully submit to it than the tax, which was extreamly odious, and would greatly affect the poor, but he would not hearken to it, and observe the merchants were all silent, he desired them to consider again upon it, and then took his leave. Some of the Merchants staying behind, the Chief told them that the trouble he had taken in this affair was

304 SURAT DIARIES.

solely at the Governments and their requests, but he should now decline any further meetings, as he found the Sciddee would not agree to any proposals they made, but seemed rather bent on collecting the tax, the bad consequences of which they well knew, and therefore left them to settle the matter amongst themselves in the best manner they could.

Surat, Monday, 18lA May 1752. Pi Pattmar wrote to the Hon¥£ the President and Council at Bombay as follows : — K° Sir & Sirs,

A valuation has been made of the horses presented the Committee by the Sciddee and Suffdir Caun, and are esteemed altogether to be worth no more than three hundred and fifty rupees, every one of them being very faulty. They were valued singly, that received from Suffdir Caun at one hundred rupees, one of those from Sciddee Mossoot at a hundred rupees, and the other at one hundred and fifty. For their amount the Presidency shall be credited.

We are with great respect,

Hj? Sir & Sirs, Your most obedi. & hubi! Servants,

CHARLES CROMMELIN.

PETER ELWIN WRENCH.

SAMUEL COURT.

Surat, Thursday, 30% July 1 752. Yesterday in the evening Suffdir Caun invited the principal Moor Merchants to sup with him, but when they were met, he acquainted them that as the Gen I. Tax (by which the money indebted to the Marattas was to have been raised) being remitted, to prevent delays in consulting some other method to raise the sum, he had called them now together, and that till they had fixed upon the means, and signed a writing as concurring to the said being put in execution, he would detain them all as prisoners. They were therefore obliged immediately to send for the head Banians, who attending them, it was advised and agreed to as the most plausible manner of collecting the money, that the usual Customs should be raised half pi cent. That goods brought from other parts of the Mogulls Dominions, which usually pay no Customs here, having a Certificate to excuse them not to pay one and a half pi cent, and to increase the Maccaut (or tax on all provisions &± brought into town) which are to be con- tinued till the sum wanted by these means is collected, a writing being jointly signed by the Merchants as submitting thereto, and given the Govl .

Surat, Saturday, 7%. April 1753. W« Sir and Sirs,

The above is duplicate of my address under yesterdays date by the Convoy, and this is purposely dispatch'd to advise you that Camauldeen Khan, the Nabob of Ahmadavad, has agreed to deliver up that place to the Marattas on their paying him R.i 105000 and permitting him to leave the place with his family and effects and the Marattas will enter the place tomorrow.

I am with respect, Cambay, 4% April 1753. W^ Sir and Sirs,

Your most Humble Servant,

ROBERT ERSKINE,

SURAT DIARIES. 305

Surat, Thursday, 121!l April 17 53. At a Consultation, Present :

Charles Crommelin, EsqJL, Chief. Robert Halford. Samuel Court, indisposed.

The Chief reads to the Board a private letter from Ml. Erskine, advising that the Nabob and all the principal Merchants of Cambay are preparing to go up with presents to the Marattaa at Ahmadavad, to compliment them on their taking that place, and intimates that the same may be expected from him. We consider how prevalant compliments of this kind are with these country people, that it is probable should we be singular on this occasion, the Marattas may be disgusted thereat, thinking we slight them, and be a reason for them to give us trouble in trans- porting down the goods of the investment manufactured of Ahmadavad and the places adjacent ; therefore agree to order Ml Erskine to dispatch the Broker to them with a complimental letter and suitable present. The Secretary is directed accordingly to prepare a letter to him.

CHA. CROMMELIN. ROBERT LAMBERT, ROBERT HALFORD.

Secretary. SAMUEL COURT.

Saturday, 20% May 1753. — Addressed the Hon^f the President and Council at Bombay as follows : —

H ° Sir and Sirs,

Soon after the Marattas took Ahmadavad ML Erskine advised us that the Nabob and principal inhabitants of Cambay intended to go up with presents to compliment the Marattas thereon, and as he judged the same might be expected from him, we accordingly gave him a discretional liberty to dispatch the Broker with a Letter and Present suitable to the occasion, which he did, and the Broker is returned from that service, having met with a handsome reception from Ragonaut Row, the Commanding Officer, who has given us a Perwannah for the security of the Companys goods coming from Dolca and Nerriad, and an order to Damajee forbidding him to take or plunder any of our vessells, but the latter we judge to be of no signification.

We are with great respect,

H^. Sir and Sirs,

Your most obi hum^. Servants,

CHARLES CROMMELIN. ROBERT HALFORD. SAMUEL COURT.

Sunday, 18lh. November 1 753.— Wrote the Hon^ the President and Council at Bombay as follows : — H?. Sir and Sirs,

The Marattas continue about the walls of the city, which prevents our compleating your HonZ?. &c^! Indent for Beef, nor have we a prospect of procuring any untill they remove out of this neighbourhood.

b 1255—77

306 SVRAT DIARIES.

The Commander of their fleet at the Bar applied to us a few days since to supply them in their present distress with six anchors, a grapnail, and twenty water buckets. The anchors we had not, but we sent him the other articles with the knowledge and consent of the Govl..

We are &c±

Monday, 22 fr April 1754. — Wrote the H» the Presid^ and Council by a Pattl as follows : — H» Sir & Sirs,

Our last address bore date tbe 10^ instant, since when we have not received any com- mands from your HonJL &c±

We find ourselves obliged to complain to your Hon L &55 of the ill treatment we have lately received from Nanoo Pundit, Nannas Agent in this place, who has for some days past stopt our goods coming in from the out parts, and seized the persons of Mahmudbhoy Jafferbhoy (one of the contractors for last years investmi.) and a relation of his, as they were coming in to Town from Nowsaree. The reason Nanoo Pundit gives for this proceeding is, that he wants one-third part of the Pishcash* and has demanded of us the immedate paymJL of it, or that we will give a writing for the amol. being 4000 Rup ■.. It has been represented to him that he ought to settle this point with the GovJL, and that we cannot pay it without an order from the Nabob, who always receives it in the month of September, and not before. Application has been made to the two GovJL on this occasion but without any effect, the Nabob declaring that he has no power, and the Sciddee puts us off with trifling answers, though we are convinced he may satisfie the Marattas if he pleases. The Marattas pretend to stop all communication of the Town, but grain and necessaries come in as usual, and it is our people and goods only that they keep in custody.

Some time ago the slaves joining in a confederacy with the Sciddee obliged the Nabob to put away his second, Farroos Khan, whose posts they divided amongst themselves and have since behaved to us in a very insolent manner by taking up several people under our protection ; and not being able to get any redress either from the Sciddee or Nabob, we beg leave to represent the same to your Hon£_ &c± , with this observation, that the Nabob has lost all his power, and cannot give us satisfaction, and the Sciddee who has these slaves at his command seems to give them encouragament, so that we have reason to apprehend these insults may be carried still further ; and the old Sciddee having of late been very infirm should he not recover, his death we judge will occasion great revolutions in this GovJL We therefore beg leave to submit to your Hon.1 &C.5! considerations what measures are proper to secure the HiL Comp^i property and privi- jedges against any ill consequences that are likely to ensue from the present situation of affairs.

We are, &c±

Surat, Thursday, 12%. November 1 754.

We had a message to-day from the Sciddee requiring that the Town Marfutteas (who are still in the Factory on accol the exceedings in the " Sandwichs" freights) might be set at liberty as we have no authority to detain the Kings subjects and their confinement put a stop to the

* Pishcash, from Persian Pesh kash, meaning a fine on appointment, renewal, or investiture. Sometimes it means a present to a great man.

SURAT DIARIES. 30?

business of the whole Town. To this we answered that these people had defrauded the HiL Company to a large amount, and as we have the Kings Phinnaund for proceeding in this manner for the recovery of our debts, we could not release them untill they had accommodated this affair, which we expected would be done this evening, when they would be permitted to leave the factory. On this the Sciddee went to the Durbar, and soon after the Nabob sent us word that unless we immediately set these people at liberty, he could not continue in friendship with us. As this priviledge of confining our debtors is one of the fundamental supports of our trade, for with- out this we can have no security in our dealings, and imagining the Gov A. would not presume on so frivolous a pretence as this to offer us so flagrant a violation of our Phirmaund rights as they threatened, we therefore sent to him the same reply we gave the Sciddee ; hut we find a guard of two hundred men is already set at the Water Gate, and a stop put to our business, and not any person belonging to us permitted to pass in or out. However, the Marfutteas acco^L being now settled, and they hav.s. given us a writing to pay in a months time their share of what we have adjusted, which they have declared in the presence of two of the Sciddees officers they allow to be just, and are satisfied, we have sent to advise the Sciddee thereof and that we are ready to release them, if the guard at the Water Gate is removed.

Wednesday, 18%. — Early this morning Sciddee Sabaun(an officer of Sciddee Mossoots) came to us, and promised that if possible our desire for the removal of the guards should be complied with. We therefore presented each of the Marf utteahs with a shawl agreeable to the country custom, and sent them with the officer to the Sciddee. But this did not satisfie the GovJL, for they then demand- ed of us to give up the Marf utteahs note before they would remove the guards, as satisfaction for the affront in presuming to take any obligation from their subjects. On this we sent repeatedly to desire that Ml Ilalford might wait on the Sciddee ; but this he absolutely refused, and as we found our business entirely stopt, no prospect of removing the guards but by complying with the Govta_ demands, and considering if these impediments remain, the investml cannot be shipped off, which will retard the dispatch of the ships to Europe, we agreed to give up the note to the Sciddee, and accordingly delivered it to Sciddee Sabaun. Just at that juncture all the streets about the Factory were filled with the Gov^. guards, and no person whatever suff err'd to come into or go from the Factory, and at the same time one of the Sciddees officers with a party of men were lodged in the Sorroy* close to us ; in this situation they continued from two till six o'clock in the evening, when the Sciddee being in possession of the Marf utteahs note, the guards were taken away.

Thursday, 28t}L November 1754. — Came to hand the following letter from the Resident at Cambay : —

W^ Sir & Sirs,

The Maratta GovL of this place (whom I have never yet paid a visit to) arrived here a few days ago from Poonah. As he often hints to our Broker that he expects I will come and see him, I can't well deferr it longer, as these people are grown more powerful! here than the Mogulls, and as I can't avoid making him a present to the value of 50 or 60 Rupees on such an occasion, I chuse to advise of it, and shall deferr waiting on him till I have your answer.

Cambay, 25l1L November 1754. I am, &c».

•-Sorroy, corruption of Serai, a building for the accommodation of travellers.

308 SURAT DIARIES.

Saturday, 28lh December 1754. — Arrived a PattJL from Cambay, who brought us the fol- lowing letter from Ml Lambert : —

W?.Sir & Sirs,

This place at present is in great confusion. The Nabob has this morning surprized and brought prisoners into the Durbar the Maratta Governor, Second, and all his officers, and has plunder'd and burnt his house to the ground, which was occasioned by the Nabobs inter- cepting some letters to the Maratta from a slave that was formerly Cotwall at Ahmavad, who has been strolling about the country some time with an army of 4 or 5000 men. These letters have discover'd to the Nabob some treachery these two were devising against the Town (of Cambay). The Merchants who left the town some months ago on some disgust from the Gov_E and have hitherto been articulating with the Nabob about their return, without being able to come to any agreement, as they trusted strongly on the Marattas' protection, having now heard of this accident, they have agreed to accept of the Nabobs own conditions, and are accordingly expect- ed in Town this afternoon. The Nabob has acquainted Eddull that he purposes giving me a Bill in two or three days time for 2000 Rupees either on Surat or Bombay, from which place he can be supplied with Powder and Lead to that amount, as he says he doubts not we shall be very ready to oblige him in this his present distress. As I cannot accept of this Bill without your positive orders, and am convinced that any evasive answer from one to his request would at this time greatly affront him, I beg your speedy directions for my guidance herein.

I omitted in my address of the 5^1 instant to advise that the Flagstaff sent up last convoy for the use of this Factory was lost in a boat we were obliged to put the mast into, which was taken by the Coolies, ours not being capable of taking it in without being greatly incommoded. I am therefore to request you will send up another as soon as possible, as this place is greatly in want of a new Flagstaff.

Cambay, 23% December 1754. I am &c±.

In the evening sailed the Bombay Grab, " Phoenix " sloop, and " Tyger " schooner for the Presidency.

Sunday, 29%. — Dispatched a Pattamar to Cambay with the following letter to ML Lam- bert : —

Sir,

Your letter of the 231 came not to hand till yesterday. We cannot consent to your accepting of any Bill from the Nabob to be sent hither to purchase Powder and Lead for him, as this would be espousing his quarrell against the Marattas, which is contrary to the Hontle Companys orders, and may be attended with ill consequences to their affairs. You are therefore not to interfere in it in any manner whatever, but take the best care you can of the Factory, should any further disturbances happen.

Our Sloop and Gallivatts will sail to-day from the Bar for the N^ward, and have orders to see any trade bound to Cambay safe into the Bunder, returning immediately.

We are &c_?.

SUB AT DIARIES.

309

Satin day, 1* November 1755. — Received the following letter from ML Erskine at Cambay, viz. : —

W» Sir & Sirs,

My last respects were dated the 14*, a few days after which the Maratta Governor of this place, whom the Nabob plundered and imprisoned last December and released again in March, having gathered between two and three thousand men, entered the country belonging to Cambay and took and burnt one of the villages, killing some of the Nabobs people who were there as a guard, upon which he ordered the Maratta officer who remained in Town to receive, their half of the customs and revenues to leave the place, which he accordingly did. On the 26th there happened a small skirmish between a few horsemen on each side, without any material loss, but yesterday about one thousand of the Marattas fell upon two hundred of the Nabobs people a mile or two of Town, killed and wounded between thirty and forty, and took some Drums and Colours and put the rest to flight, which I imagine will prevent their venturing again without the walls. As I happened to be by him when his people returned, he desired that as they were daunted, I would at present send a few people to that Bastion, which has long been usual for us to send Sepoys to defend, which although I would willingly have avoided, I could not well do in such a publick place without greatly disgusting him (the Nabob) after it's being a custom for so many years. Besides as the convoy will be up next springs and we shall want the investment shipped, I was afraid a refusal might induce him to put some impediment upon that, which I thought was principally to be avoided. I therefore sent thither five extraordinary Peons not belonging to the Factory, who, as soon as I can get a proper opportunity to speak to the Nabob, I shall desire his permission to withdraw, being ordered to stand perfectly neuter on all occasions, which I hope will be approved of. I hear the Marattas intend to encamp on that side of the Town towards the Bunder ; therefore two Gallivats will be necessary for protecting the investment and other boats, and it would be well if they were all directed to come up directly opposite to the Town as possible without coming to an anchor up the river, as it's ten to one if they are far distant from each other, but some freebooters of the Maratta army may attempt to plunder them.

Cambay, the 28'^ October 1 755. I am with respect, &c? .

Account Salary due to the Hon*!!? Companys Covenanted servants at Sttrat ending 1*

January 1756 inclusive vizi: —

Names.	Due.	Salary per annum.	Salary due.
Brabazon Ellis, Esquire, Chief Robert Halford, Senior Merchant ... Samuel Court d.2. Robert Lambert, Factor Nathanial Stackhouse, Writer Di as Leader of Devine Service Robert Heriot, Surgeon .,» ... ...	Mths. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6	ds. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0	£. 8. 100 0 40 0 40 0 15 0 5 0 12 10 54 0	d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0	£. 50 20 20 7 2 6 27	8. 0 0 0 10 10 5 0	d. b. d. 0 at 2 6 o „ „ o „ „ 0 „ „ 0 J " " o „ „	Rs. per 40O „ 100 „ 160 „ 60 „ 70 „ 216
			133	5	0	1066

Surat, 2* January 1756. b 1255—78"

310 8URAT DIARIES.

Friday, 19'* April 1756. — Received the following letter from Ml Erskine at Cambay '■ —

W£_ Sir & Sirs,

Your commands of the 6'A I received the 9^ and those of the 10^ the 13th, which I would have replied to immediately, but waited till I could write your WS &ci a satisfactory answer regarding our goods. As I doubt not but the Chief has informed you of the occasion of my stay at Jamboseer I shall not now trouble you with a repetition.

I arrived here the 8fcJi and immediately waited on the Nabob, who was encamped with his army about a mile from the town which he had left that day. I had some conversation with him about our goods, but as it was late he desired I would come next day. I waited on him accordingly, and remonstrated with him in as friendly a manner as possible how unjust it would be to detain our goods, and also represented to his Duan and Custom Master very strongly the ill consequences that would inevitably attend it. It would be needless to repeat our whole conversation, but after reflecting & advising that night with the above mentioned persons, and some others in whom he confides most, the next day he gave me a very complaisant answer, importing that he never would have touched a pice of our property had he known it to be such, (which indeed I'm almost persuaded of) and that every thing he had taken of ours should be returned us without any consideration altho' he had been at a good deal of expence and trouble in bringing the goods from Jamboseer. However, that as he had ever been & now was so ready to serve us in whatever we desired, he hoped the Gov! & Council would also assist him in his necessities. I acquainted him that that was entirely in their own breasts, and that it was not in my power to promise him anything; that however the Govl and Council would certainly not be ungratefull, but readily serve him to the utmost of their power, so far as was reasonable & tended not to their own hurt. Ho marched in the evening of the 10* & told me he had given directions to Mirza Mamud Zumma, a very good sort of man, who he has left Gov L here (Cambay) to satisfie me in whatever I should desire. Accordingly on comparing the list of goods we have lost with those the Nabob brought from Jumboseer, it appeared that there were a few articles, altho' not very considerable, which never came into his hands, and other articles of which he has only got a part of what we have lost, which may very well be, as his Seepoys plundered a good deal, for I'm pretty well convinced he will not conceal any thing. There are also some of our goods which he had sold before I came from Jamboseer, about which Mamud Zumma told me he had no directions from the Nabob, and would therefore write him for an answer, which he received the 14u>, directing him to deliver back whatever goods of ours he really had in his possession ; that such as were sold must either be taken back from the purchasers and delivered us, or if that could not be, the amount they were sold for ; but as for any other goods it was not in his power to return them, they never having come into his possession. When I have received the goods, and can ascertain what are wanting, I shall inform your W± &clL.

I am, &c±. Cambay, the 15% April 1756.

Friday, 12% August 1757. — Came to hand the following Commands from the Ilon^S the President and Council of Bombay : —

Sirs,

Your letters of the 21!?. May & 20^> June are come.

Having learnt that there is a ship now in Surat river, which was lately called the " Betsy," and we hear left Bengali with an English Pass and Colours, and we have likewise good reason

SUltAT DIARIES. 311

to believe was then English property, from there being at this time some bonds in the place for Respondentia lent on her by certain gentlemen in Bengali, and that notwithstanding her being bound to Bussora and back to the Day, Captain John Demar, who then commanded h<-r, put into Muscat on his return, where he and the Purser remained, but sent the ship on a voyage from thence to Cochin, in charge of one Fitzgerald, as it is said, under pretence of get- ting her repaired, as well as towards defraying her charges, and that she returned hack to Muscat under Dutch Colours, in which interval Ml Demar died at that place, and that the ship was brought from thence, about the beginning of June, by a person named Wintle, who instead of coming hither, to a port of safety, in such a dangerous part of the monsoon, pro- ceeded to, and arrived at Surat Bar on the 17*^ of that month ; and as we hear Ml Wintle has never been to the Chief to give an account of the ships voyage, though there is so much reason to conclude she belongs to the English, and as we think it a duty incumbent on us to have a proper enquiry made into the affair, both that justice may be obtained for the con- cerned, and the Customs in such case made good to our Hon^ Masters, we direct that you represent all the abovementioned circumstances of her voyage, by our order, to the Dutch Directore and Council at your place, and desire they will acquaint you if she is really Dutch property, and how she became so ; but if she proves to belong to the English, you are to insist on the Dutch not affording the Master or any other person belonging to her their protection, and oblige him to give you whatever information may be conducive to his owners interest.

Finding it necessary lately to confirm and enforce the necessary rules of the service regarding the Hon^5 Company s Military Forces, we enclose you copy of our order to Sir James Foulis for that purpose, that you may issue the like to the officer of your Detachment, and it is likewise proper to acquaint you that we have given one of the same tenour to the Super- intendent of the Marine.

You are also to order the Military Officer at your Factory always in future to make the Major a monthly return of his Detachment as conveyances offer.

The President and Council at Fort William having acquainted us that they shall not admit of any plea which may be urged by any person for having paid our Hon^e Masters export duties on goods designed for Bengali at any place under the jurisdiction of this Presidency, unless they can produce a Bill or Certificate for the same agreeable to the paragraphs of the Hon^ Court of Directors commands transmitted you in September last, you are punctually to comply therewith.

We are,

Bombay Castle, J^L August 1757. Your Loving Friends.

Surat, Friday, 12'h August 1757. At a Consultation, Present :

Brabazon Ellis, EsqJL, Chief.

Robert Halford.

Robert Erskine.

Ml Court at Bombay. Read & approved our last Consultation* Read also the letter received this day from the Hon^ President and Council of Bombay.

Resolved that Mess1! Halford & Erskine wait upon the Dutch to-morrow morning to represent to them the purport of the Governor & Councils commands.

312 SUMAT DIARIES.

Directed the Secretary to issue an order to the Officer of the Factory for making a monthly return in future of the state of the detachment at this place to the Commandant of the Military at Bombay, as also for shewing a due observance of the order of the Governor & Council of Bombay (as entered hereafter) which they inclosed us a copy of.

The Chief informing the Board that a private letter from the President requires his best endeavours to be exerted in the provision of a number of black cattle for the service of the Hon^? Companys Marine, and as few are to be procured here from the impediments which the Marat tas occasion, and those which happen sometimes to be got are for the most part very poor in flesh and dear, agreed that M£ Lambert be directed to try if he cannot purchase a quantity to be delivered at Gogo or Cambay, from whence the Hon^? the President observes, in the prementioned letter to the Chief, that they can easily be sent for, if to be obtained.

Examined & passed the annual accounts of Cambay Residency, and ordered that the balance of Rupi 903-47 due to Ml Lambert from the Honb|e Company be paid to Mf. Erskine agreable to his desire.

BRABAZON ELLIS. NATH. STACKHOUSE, ROBERT IIALFORD.

Seer l ROB? ERSKINE.

Saturday, 133 August 1757. — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Director and Council : —

Gentlemen,

The Remonstrance we have the honour to make you on the present occasion is in conse- quence of an order from the Hon^ President and Council of Bombay, who direct us to acquaint you they have been informed that the ship now in Surat River, which arrived here under Dutch colours on the 17^* June, is English property, belonging to English merchants of Bengali. That she left Calcutta with English pass and colours, commanded by Captain John Demare, was bound to the Mallabar Coast and Bussora, and back to Madrass and Bengali. That in her return from Bussora she put into Muscat, and was thence sent by the said Demare on a voyage to Cochin in charge of one Fitzgerald, as it is said, under pretence of getting her repaired, as well as towards defraying her charges. That she returned back to Muscat under Dutch colours, in the interval of which voyage the said Demare died. That the ship was afterwards brought from thence by a person named Wintle, who, instead of going to Bombay, a port of safety, came to this Bar, at such a dangerous time of the monsoon as the middle of June, and since his arrival has put himself wholy under your protection. They direct us therefore to apply to you for particular information in this affair, as well in consideration of that justice which is due to the concerned, as that attention which we owe to the interest of our Masters the Hon^f English East India Company, in the regular collection of those duties, which on the merchandize of all English subjects are due to them. If therefore she be actually Dutch property, we are to request you will oblige us with the knowledge of the circumstances by which she became so On the other hand, if she be not so (which a variety of concurring circumstances induce both our Superiors & selves to believe, more especially as no authority is known to have been vested in the said Wintle, or any other person on board her, for alienating the property of said ship), we think it needless to point out to you, Gentlemen, the fatal conse- quences to the trade of both Nations, which might be feared to ensue from the precedent of your affording protection to a man acting in open violation of all Laws, or one whose conduct has the appearance of so much fraud and intentional injury, as that of Mi Wintle towards his

SURAT DIARIES. 8JS

employers, nor can we doubt your readiness in such case to withdraw the same, which we thus request, and have the honour to be, with perfect esteem,

Gentlemen, Sural, 13th- August 1757. Your most hu™ & most obedi Servants.

Sunday, 14^. — Came to hand the following Commands from the Hon1;!!! the President and Council of Bombay : —

Sirs,

Immediately after closing our last, under the 4*Jj instant, we received your letter, with the accompanying accounts for the month of June

Judging it necessary to reinforce our Garrison, that we may be the better enabled to defeat any attempt the French may make against this Island, we have resolved to withdraw your officer and Detachment of Military by the first conveyance. You are therefore to hold them in readiness for that purpose, and you are likewise hereby directed to enlist what able military people you can procure in Surat and the adjacent country, with expedition, not exceeding the number of two thousand (2000), to be sent hither, as opportunities offer. We would have you give the preference to Turks, Arabs, and Rajahpoots, to those of any other nation, as well as the entertaining a proportionable number of each, rather than the whole should consist of any particular country, and we must leave it to your discretion whether it will best answer your settling the pay with each individual, or to agree with every Subedar for raising his Company at certain rates, with this observation that the pay allowed such forces enlisted at your place, in the year 1746, with provisions and charges, turned out thirteen (13) Rupees per month for the Turks and Arabs, and eight (8) rupees per month for the Seepoys, one with another, officers included, to which you are to conform, unless you can agree with them on more reasonable terms, not doubting your best endeavours will be used for that purpose, as also for getting such people as have been most used to arms, and should you be under a necessity of engaging with them for a certain time, we recommend it's not exceeding the ensuing fair season.

We are,

Bombay Castle, 6*1 August 1757. Your Loving Friends.

Monday, 15lA. — Addressed the IIonM? President and Council of Bombay as follows: —

Ho!L Sir and Sirs,

On the 12^? we received your commands of the 4* instant and yesterday those of the 6^ came to hand.

Mess5 Halford and Erskine made a visit to the Dutch on the 13^! to represent the pur- port of your orders concerning the Ship " Betsy," and person in charge of her, but the Directore desiring to have it in writing, we wrote them accordingly the same day, as per copy of our letter inclosed, their answer to which has not yet been received.

The Officer and Detachment of Military here are ordered to keep in readiness to return to the Presidency p. first opportunity, as your Honour &c 1 direct. Sixty Seepoys we judge will be the fewest that must necessarily be hired on this occasion in their stead for the requisite duty of the Factory, as Seepoys here every other night go home, whence only half their number is on duty at one time.

The encouragement given by the Nabob of Cambay, the Marat tas, and this Government to to all sorts of people who are in the least degree acquainted with the use of arms, has not only very considerably enhanced their price, but left few or none at this time to be got, yet hope n 1255—79

314 SURAT DIARIES.

when the Mocha Ships arrive that a Company or two of Arahs may he picked up, and in the mean while if any others can be enlisted here, or in the adjacent country, on reasonable terms, we will not fail to embrace the occasion.

We shall be duly observant to furnish ships bound from this place to Bengali with the requisite certificates, that the Hon!^? Companys dutys on their Export Cargoes have been regularly paid, and remain, with respect,

RoR Sir & Sirs,

Surat, 15lh. August 1757. Your most obedl hu?L Servants.

Received a letter from the Dutch Directore and Council, in answer to ours of the 13^ instant, translate of which is as follows : — Gentlemen,

We had the honour the day before yesterday, at nine o'clock in the evening, to receive your favour, but Sunday intervening, we have not been able sooner to send you an answer ; besides, so few of us understanding the English language in perfection, it has cost us some trouble to get a translation, as none, according to former usage, was annexed.

At the arrival of the ship " Tharsis " (the principal point in your letter) the first of the under written (MJi Taillfert) demanded instantly from Captain Thomas Wintle his pass port, and finding it signed by the E. A. M_r, Caspar de Jong, present Commander of Cochin and his Council, and that the ship is therein mentioned as belonging to a Jewish merchant, Ezekeel, Rabbi, inhabitant of Cochin, and consequently a subject of the United Provinces, which was all we wanted to be informed in, we thought this sufficient for us to consider and treat the ship, cargo, and people, as belonging to our Nation, as we of course have done and in future shall do. It does not belong to us to enquire how the beforementioned Ezekeel, Rabbi, has got the proper- ty of this vessel. His absence and the death of the Captain and part owner, John de Mar (who is said privately to have received orders from the rest of his owners to sell, freight out, or do anything therewith which he should judge most proper for their common interest) makes it very difficult to decide here and may be yet more difficult to prove. But in case the trouble you have given yourselves about this affair (as far as we know without any knowledge or orders from the first owners) should not proceed, according to some broadspread rumour, from a personal dislike against the prementioned Captain Thomas Wintle, whom it is not well so to chagrin, under the specious pretext of taking care of the right of the interested, &c£; ; but in fact should mean to have any such lawfull claim upon the ship, cargo, or his person and goods as can pass a justiciary enquiry, and consequently tend to call the said Wintle (who is, as doubtless you are very well informed, under the special protection of our Company) before his regular and com- petent Judges, the Council of Justice of this Factory, you may be perswaded that far from act- ing the least to prejudice the concerned, we are ready, on the contrary, exemplarily to punish such as are found guilty of fraudulent proceedings, and will take care that you, or those who may be qualified for such prosecution, shall have an expedient and suitable justice, which is all we can find with reason can be demanded of us.

For the rest, we have the confidence in your discretion and discernment that you will not further insist on our retracting the given protection, which demand we have so much the less expected, as it is out of our power to grant, after you have given us so many examples and reasons to extend and maintain our protection as far as ever the right of Nations and the general received custom amongst Europeans in these parts will permit. So that we think it unnecessary to repeat anything on the subject, since we necessarily must look on your Factory

SURAT DIARIES. 315

and colours as a certain assylum for the faithless and forsworn servants of our Company, and in a word for all our subjects guilty of any crime whatsoever, whereof after so many the most reasonable but fruitless representations, as well as on the fatal consequences this might bring on the trade of both Nations, we have resolved never more to importune you without a special order from our Superiors.

We are with a perfect esteem, Surat, 15lA. August 1757. Gentlemen,

Your most huE and obedient Servants, LOUIS TAILLFERT. J^ DRABBB. I. SWEERS DB LANDAS. D. KELLY. I. FALCK. RUPBRTI. R. EBBENHORST. PHILIP WARAGSEN.

Thursday, 8th- September 1757. — Came to hand the following Commands from the Ho.? the President and Council of Bombay : — Sirs, We have duly received your advices of the 15^, 17^ and 22"J ultf with the papers said to accompany them.

We would have you entertain such a number of Seepoys for your Factory guard as has been usual when there has been no military on duty there, and dont see occasion for any more.

With respect to the answer the Dutch Directore and Council have given you regarding the Ship " Betsy," we must remark that as honest men they ought to enquire how she may have become Ezekeel Rabbis property, and we think they should produce to you a copy of the orders they mention Captain Demare received from his owners. However, we inclose you two original depositions, taken by the Superintendant, from Captains David Rannie and Thomas Warner, by which it appears obvious that she still belongs to English gentlemen at Calcutta, as the former declared that not only M^ Wintle the present Commander, but one Abraham a Jew, who was nominally so, told him that their only reason for their getting a Dutch Pass and wearing Dutch Colours was for their greater security, on account of our Nation being at war with France, and Bf * Demare the former Captain, for the same reason, previously sent the ship to Cochin with the King of Muscats Pass and Colours. Mi. Wintle likewise promised to follow Captain Rannies advice for prosecuting his voyage from Muscat to Bengali, and you will remark from Captain Warners deposition, that Demare assured him at Calcutta that he was concerned with Mr. Pearkes in the ship and cargo on a voyage to the Gulph of Persia and back to Bengali, from all which proofs of her having been English property, and the great reason there is to conclude that she still continues so, we have resolved that you shall insist (if the Dutch any longer dispute it) on their detaining her and cargo till it can be determined who she now belongs to, and in case of their refusal, that you protest against them for all damages which may ensue to our HonM? Masters, her owners, & all others concerned, & we leave it to you to make such further remarks on the Directore and Councils answer to your letter as you may judge proper.

We are,

Bombay Castle, l'L September 1757. Your Loving Friends.

316 SURAT DIARIES.

Friday, 51* September. — Arrived the Ships " Gunjavir" and " Faree Salara" from Mocha.

Saturday, 10lA September.— Wrote a letter to the Dutch Directore and Council here, as follows : — Gentlemen,

As we addressed you last by the particular direction of our Superiors concerning the Ship " Betsy," which we perceive passes under a different name with you, it was incumbent on us to submit the contents of your reply dated the 15^ ultimo to their consideration, and it is in obedience to their orders that we now write you again on the same subject.

The important motives which our request to you was founded upon, the regard due to your own characters, and the little difficulty which could have attended your compliance, assur- ed us that from gentlemen who presided over a European Factory it could have met with no objection ; and sorry, extremely sorry, we are to find ourselves disappointed in so reasonable an expectation ; as the tenour of your whole letter speaks, it is calculated rather to perplex and ob- struct our attainment of a due knowledge of the truth, than intended to afford us the smallest satisfaction ; for if the late Captain John Demare had discretional powers for selling the said ship and actually made use of them, those, with all other papers relative to her sale, must now be in M.L Wintles possession, a sight of which, without the least prejudice to the concerned, whoever they be, would at once have given us the information we desired. But to trouble neither you nor ourselves further on the subject of this pretended sale than our duty indispen- sibly requires, we are at present to acquaint you that the Hon^? President and Council of Bombay, in conviction that the said ship is still English property, as appears by two original depositions taken upon oath, one of which given by Captain David Rannie, Commander of the " Success" Galley of Bengali, and now at Bombay, asserts her to have been declared such both by Mi Wintles own mouth at Muscat and by one Abraham a Jew, who at Cochin was nominal master of her, each of whom told him that their only reason for getting a Dutch Pass and Dutch Colours was for the vessels greater security on account of the war subsisting between England and France, for which reason Mil Demare had previously sent her to Cochin under the colours of the Imaum of Muscat ; and further, that Ml Wintle consulted the said deponents advice on the most proper track for prosecuting his voyage home from Muscat to Bengali ; for this therefore, and other reasons, they positively direct us to insist that as you longer dispute the national property of said ship, that you detain both vessel and cargo in your

hands till satisfyed to whom she belongs from the real owners themselves, and that the

can be received in regard to her. We know not of, nor can we go to any other Judges whatever than to you, gentlemen, a collective body, as Directore and Council for all affairs of the Dutch Nation in this place, nor is it material to us in what form you pursue such inquiries as may be thought necessary by you towards giving us that satisfaction we demand.

We acknowledge the singularness of your supposition, that those very weighty reasons assigned for the trouble given you in our last were no other than specious pretexts to cover some personal disgusts to a man whom we have no knowledge of, and whose origin we can trace no higher than that he was a private soldier in the HoP Companys Troop on the Coast of Cor- mandell, till discharged from thence at the request of Ml Demare. Let it suffice to say, that in our service it is a practice equally unnecessary and unknown to gloss over our actions with pretexts of any kind, and however trivial the principles which we act upon may appear to you, we shall always persist in showing that regard for the public weal and for the interest of our employers which wTe profess.

Respecting the personal protection granted to deserters from your Factory, and which never will be refused by us again, without a special order from our Superiors to that effect, did

SUB AT DIARIES. 317

you not make it a point of justice to ourselves, it would be disagreable to us to remind you that it waa DO less than a violation of promise in your late Directore Mi De'Roth, to receive deserters back with impunity, contrary to whose given word two were shamefully sent and punished aboard a ship in the road, which has rendered it inconsistent with the honour of the Flag we hoist to return you any more. If any persons amongst those we have received have been guilty of other crimes than that of simple desertion, it is more than we know, nor has application in any such case ever been made to us for redress ; and conscious you are of our being so scrupulously nice in matters of property, that no deserter has ever brought a single musquet or bayonet to our Factory which has not been constantly restored.

Were we sufficient masters of your language, punctilio would not restrain us from address- ing you therein, and a translate to our last was only omitted, in belief that we could use no other, which is better understood by some of you than our own. To this you have a translate in Portugueze annexed, and we remain

Gentlemen, Surat, 10lh September 1757. Your most humble and obed_* Servants.

Wednesday, 14tb September. — Received a letter from the Dutch Directore and Council dated yesterday in answer to ours of the 10^ insi , translate of which follows: — Gentlemen,

Having in our letter of the 15^} ult_° offered you every thing which could be resonably exacted from an independent nation, in a case like that which makes the present debate, we have been surprized to see that in yours of the lO^il ins J; you form to yourselves a quite different idea, which you are pleased to nourish with so much tenderness, that far from rectify- ing gently the members of this cherished child, it seems impossible for you to see the deform- ity thereof. There is no blindness so incurable as that of those who will not see, which makes us fear that all the pains we may take for inspiring you with a different mode of thinking and expression, whether by writing or by word of mouth, will be fruitless and lost. We should not- withstanding think ourselves wanting to the laws of civility and to ourselves were we to be silent, and out of complaisance to others to swallow those sweet potions which you have bestowed with so liberal a hand, without making a wry face or signifying the disgust they excite in us.

We confess freely that we should have reason to condemn ourselves if what you advance, namely, that the important motives whereon you founded your demand on the Ship "Tharsis,'* (which name you very well know has not been changed by us here, but in Cochin), the regard we owe to our own character, and the little difficulty which in your opinions could attend our compliance, have perswaded you that therefore it could meet with no objection on our parts, and this would be sufficient to put us wholy in the wrong ; but if you will please to have the goodness and discretion to let us enjoy the liberty which we have by our birth, and which we believe ourselves not yet to have lost, in consequence whereof we are permitted to think differently about things and events, and to regulate our actions, not upon your opinions, but those that justice, equity, and reason dictate, we cannot dispense with perswading ourselves that the judgement you please to put thereon by no means diminishes their intrinsick value, and that those names wherewith you qualify our proceedings, decide even as little therein as those simple propositions which a contrary party might bring before a Court of Justice without proofs.

Perhaps you may object that these are not the only things you have advanced, but that with one and the same breath you have given us to understand, that you are dissatisfy ed very b 1255-80

318 SURAT DIARIES.

much to see yourselves frustrated in so reasonable an expectation, as the whole tenor of our letter seems rather calculated to embarass you and elude your concerned hopes of receiving information about the truth of matters than to give you the least satisfaction. We agree willing- ly with you herein, Gentlemen, that it is beneath us to have recourse to such low and vile means, as for example to be silent about things that will not serve our purpose ; to answer to things which have not been said, or at least in such a sense as one would make the publick believe ; to give to anothers words and expressions a more absolute and positive meaning than that wherein they have been used ; to ground things on principles not proved, nor to be prov- ed, and other such articles calculated to dazzle the eyes of those who only look on the exterior part of things, and think superficially ; but, Gentlemen, we are obliged to alledge that not only our former remarks agree perfectly well with the subject, but also that every man used to pass through such cobwebs, and to feel with lus own fingers, for what is pretended to be thrust into his hands will easily, on looking over our letters on both sides, distinguish what is to be found therein, and will just find the contrary of what you advance. For if in Europe a case should exist, such as you partly wrongly support, vizi that a ship having belonged to English sub- jects, but sailing with Dutch colours and passport, and agreeable to such passport belonging to Dutch subjects, should be commanded by an English Captain, who, obliged thrS. bad weather should anchor in a Dutch port, whereunto he is not bound, notwithstanding that he might easily have gained an English Harbour, and that the Magistrate of a neighbouring English place insisting or taking for pretext, that by this a prejudice was offered to the rights of their town, and showing some doubt, if the Commander might not intend to appropriate to himself the owners property ; if, say we, not only the same Magistrate, without any request or order from the owners, and perhaps even against their intention and hopes (who might be well satisfied to let the ship and lading pass to everybody, as Dutch property) and even without the least knowledge of the powers and orders that might be given ; but even the owners themselves, for the same reason, although they should not be possessed of any proof to justify their fear, should think proper to address themselves for justice to the Magistrate in the place- where the ship was (and where tbe Captain for to shelter bimself against those prosecutions which might be raised against him should have demanded and obtained the Right of Naturalization), then neither the English Magistrate nor the owners could think themselves prejudiced in the least, in case the Dutch Magistrate, unacquainted with the true state of the question, should refer them to the ordinary, natural, and competent Judge of the place, where actually the ship and cargo was to be found, solumnly promising to see that a good and ready justice should be administered in the affair, and that there was no design to incur the least damage to the English, who were concern- ed, but on the contrary make an example of those that might have rendered themselves culpable of fraudulent proceedings. We leave it to unprejudiced people to judge whether this would tend rather to embarass the demanders and to hinder them from attaining a perfect knowledge of the principall circumstance (vizi whether ship and cargo actually have been sold to Dutch subjects, though without the demanders knowledge) by deceased Captain Demare and his part- ners, thro' the virtue of a special power, and whether in consequence thereof these are not law- full proprietors than to give them the least satisfaction.

You say further, that if the deceased Captain Demare was authorized to dispose of the said ship agreeable to his pleasure, and in fact made use of such power, then the same and all other papers concerning the sale must be in the hands of M» Wiutle. This argument does not appear to us to be so conclusive, as it is confidently given by you, since it is not the first time that papers of this nature, whose preservation is of less importance to the seller than to the buyer, have been dispersed after the death of the former. But we will not stand hereupon, as we never yet have pleaded in favour of this sale, notwithstanding that the original Commission has

SVRAT DIARIES. 319

been laid before us, whereof we have taken an authentick copy. We have only said that ship and cargo according to the passport appeared to belong to a subject of the United Provinces, which was sufficient to make us look on both as belonging to our Nation, and to act accord*

ingly, which wc have done and shall continue to do, that is to say, so far as concerns the pro- tection and the collection of the Customs which belong to on all those who use

their colours &ca whether the ship belongs to a Dutch subject or not, but no further,

reserving always the right of a third person, whom we don't intend to touch. So that, Gentle- men, with whatever every one might be inclined to envenom our expressions, for to confirm your Superiors in these sinister ideas, which seems to have been inspired them about this affair, you will find it difficult to demonstrate to impartial persons that by us ever was supposed that this sale, by you called pretended, has ever taken place, being quite different from our pro- position, which only implies that in consequence of the power given the Captain as part owner, this sale might have been made, but that in this place it would be difficult to make an exact inquiry iuto it.

But were we well perswaded of the truth or reality of this sale in question, we must as friends acknowledge truly to you, that declarations under oath made only from hearsay would not be capable to make us change our system ; and we cannot comprehend how, when really convinced, that the only reasons for demanding Dutch passport and colours at Cochin was so much the better to provide for the security of the ship on occasion of the war between England and France, and that on our part there could be no other motive for granting one or other than to oblige your Nation, by contributing more than is strictly permitted us to put ship and cargo in security, that you could prevail with yourselves to make the affair publick and conse- quently to contribute, as much as lay in your power, to frustrate the end proposed, and it is not probable that the owners will be obliged to you for it, or that your superiors on better consideration of the matter will be satisfied therewith. Besides, such a proceeding will never encourage the Ministers, who are at the head of affairs in our Settlements, for the future to show the like proofs and goodwill to any of your Nation, more especially as your Company, suppos- ing them to have any lawfull claim on account of customs, may always maintain their right and from the owners find sufficient means to satisfy themselves.

Concerning your reply to our refering you to justice, viz* that you know of no other Judges, nor can address yourselves elsewhere than to our collective body of Directore and

Council for all affairs relating nation in this place, we are obliged, as you please to

affect to show yourselves unacquainted herein, to let you know that we on no account or at least very improperly can appropriate this title to ourselves, since everything relative to justice, which certainly comprehends all disputes concerning property, whether moveables or inmove- ables, have long since been expressly excepted by our Superiors, and consequently whether you do us the honour or not to qualify us and consider us upon this footing, or exact of us a thing contrary to our received orders, that cannot authorize nor oblige us to meddle with things which do not belong to us, and for passing the bounds prescribed to us, we should badly apologize to our Superiors in offering it as an excuse that you were of a contrary opinion. Nevertheless, it contributes not a little to put our spirits at ease, that you give us to under- stand it is a matter of indifference to you in what manner we act, so that we do but ... to those laws which you are pleased to prescribe to us, and we cannot but heartily thank yo foru this your favourable declaration.

Notwithstanding all this, and to show that out of pure politeness and complaisance we are disposed to do more than what with justice can be exacted from us, and tho' in fact we cannot find any danger in the delay, we have, at Ml Wintles offer, named two members of our

320 SURAT DIARIES.

Assembly, MessI? Sweers and Kelly, to attend to the interest of the owners of the ship in question, using all possible and practicable means to that end, and to have charge of the cargo and its produce till such time as the owner have disposed thereof.

If to be truly polite, it is required not to mention the true motives that agreeable to pub- lick report have prevailed on somebody to give us and himself a deal of unnecessary trouble about nothing, when even it is necessary so to do, to give those a clearer idea of this affair into whose hands our letters may fall, we allow freely to have trespassed and to have deserved that sprightly criticism which the author of your letter has thought fit to decorate it with, and we will without appealing to our letter to show that it was no supposition made by us, but only a common report which was told us, ask your pardon, sincerely protesting that we had no intentions therein to offend you, nor to show any diffidence about your zeal and attention to the interest of your Masters ; but in case the contrary is to take place, as we are more inclined to believe, we hope you wont take it amiss, if willingly or unwillingly we must say that the pre- tended glosses should be an unknown thing in your service, this could not so much hinder us from using any, as that powerf ull argument of your having no further acquaintance of Ml Wintles origin than his being a simple soldier, which serves as a demonstration that you have not, nor can have any personal animosity or dissatisfaction with him. For what would it avail us to go so far as to say that in case we should have occasion for lessons of politeness, it never would come in our heads to address ourselves to a Gentleman, who, notwithstanding his pene- tration and solidity of judgement, united with a profounde knowledge in the theory of polite- ness (which we in no shape intend to dispute with him) makes no difficulty when it comes into his head, in a Commission to another Chief to send a common servant, instead of a Secretary or a Commissioned Officer, agreeable to customs of all times, and which has hindered us to imitate herein ; who, instead of Chupadars or other more proper domesticks, used to send Harkaras to be informed of another Chiefs health, till not being inclined so publickly to be affronted he has been paid in the same coin ; and who is wanting to such a degree in the practice of a becoming civility, that tho' we in a body assisted at the funeral of his deceased Lady, has never deigned to make another a small compliment upon his marriage. We are sorry, Gentlemen, yes very much so, that we are obliged to come to particulars of this nature as we rather should chuse to cover with the veil of charity such proofs of politeness and humility; but we are forced in our own defence to avail ourselves of the same sort of weapons wherewith we are attacked, that in the eyes of the spectators we may not seem to be overcome, and to escape the reproach of pussillaminity ; tho' for the rest we shall not envy him who will feel himself picqued to the heart what consolation he can find in exclaming out his very soul.

We hope in the mean time you will not take it amiss if we take the liberty to add that what you write about the deserters is as well founded as the rest of your letter, for it is easy to charge an absent man who is not in a condition to defend himself with what- ever one pleases. At the same time your propositions are not strengthened with the least proof, and we never heard that you could bring forth any. For to send sailors who once have deserted on board ship in such manner that they cannot attempt it a second time, can never be called a shamefull punishment, besides, with our knowledge, nobody ever engaged to pardon a deserter any thing besides the act of desertion, and by no means theft or other crimes whereof they might be guilty, and the writings of two wretches that they had been punished for desertion, which you formerly have alledged, will with great difficulty pass for proof with impartial and reasonable people, notwithstanding that you with greediness have embraced them as such, no more than the sayings of a single man contradicted by another of as much credit. Besides, we can add that the mentioned contract had a long while before been broken by your present Chief, Mr. Ellis, who hardly put his foot ashore

SURAT DIARIES. 321

here before he sent one of our sailors to Bombay, under pretence that he did not know the man to be actually in our Companys service, and when he was reclaimed, promised to get him returned back, of which promise he never has accpiitted himself, as is l.ote 1 down in our Resolution of the 25th. of January 1755.

We love truth too much to disavow that more than once musquets and bayonets of our deserters have been returned, and we should be ready to condemn ourselves if we should have thought or alv moed the least to t\xi contrary, notwithstanding it is not long since one of our Trumpeters dressed in a quite new and palpably known livery of the first under written, did run away and was received with the sama dress in your Factory, which proves sufficiently that every one who presents himijlf is received even without distinguishing the domesticks of the Director.

We send with this a French translation, which we hope will be more intelligible to you than your l'ortugueze one has been to us, as we are all unacquainted with that language. We make you an offer for the future to send an English or French translation of our letters, so long as we have persons amongst us who understand either ; but on condition that you formally promise in writing it never shall be construed as an obligation from us, but an act of politeness and complaisance on our parts to you, and no duty which might be of future prejudice to us.

isurat, 13tkr September 1757. We are &™.

Monday, 19th September — Addressed the Hon^Le the President and Council of Bombay : —

Hon. Sir and Sirs,

By the convoy which arrived yesterday at the Bar, we were honoured with your command of the 1 2*k instant, and shall dispatch the vessels back, which are ordered to be returned as soon as a few Arabs, whom we are enlisting, are ready to go on board.

The Expedition, which we judged the service required in the dispatch of five Companies of Seepoys that we hired here, induced us to send them down on board the " Monmouth" Ketch and three Country Boats hired for that purpose, as we knew of no other opportunity which was likely to offer, and those vessels left the Bar on the 15th instant.

Inclosed is translate of a letter received from the Dutch, in answer to ours of the 10_h instant, with which we join the original, lest the translate should not be so perfect as we wish. As they have thought proper, at M.Tr Win ties offer, to comply with the point we were directed to insist upon, the most proper treatment of that vanity & scurrility which their letter contains we think will be to give it no reply, but submit that to your Honour &<=?? determination.

Our monthly accounts for August are inclosed with an Invoice of the spare musquets and bayonets sent down with the detachment, and we remain,

Surat, 19'JL September 1757. Hon. Sir and Sirs,

Your most obedient hum. Servants.

Friday, 23*.. . — Received duplicates of the two following letters from Mr Lambert at Cambay, originals of which are not yet come to hand : —

W?_ Sir and Sirs,

The bearer hereof is a Jemmedar (named Kaalee Khan), to whom I have given a Commission to enlist at Broach and the adjacent villages, where he is acquainted, a Company u 1255—81

322 SUR AT DIARIES.

of Seepoys, and for this purpose have, on proper security, advanced him two hundred (200) Rupees. His agreement is, that on his arrival with you, such of the people as he brings with him whom you like not, may be rejected, and the remainder you may entertain. Their pay is to commence, at the rates mentioned in the inclosed paper, from the time you enroll them.

I am, W°_ Sir and Sirs, Cambay, 14* September 1757. Your most obedL. b>*» Servants.

Jemmedar per month ... ... ... ... 50

D.iffetWira (or inferior officers,) one to every 20 private men ... 8 per month.

Colour-bearer ... ... ••• ••• 'u

Vn.-kul ... ... ... ••■ 15

Private men ... ... ... ••• 42

And moreover to be allowed provisions, each man daily such a quantity as is the custom at the Presidency.

Wednesday, 5'\ December 1759. — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore and Council : —

WfL_ Sir and Sirs,

We duly recd_ your favour of the 14* ultimo, and in consequence an Engineer waited on you at your Bunder, and on his report orders have been issued to the proper officers to permit of the buildings reported by him necessary and no ways prejudicial to our works, the particulars of which he will report to you, and you, Gentlemen, will take what time is most agreable to yourselves to put them in execution.

We must beg leave to differ from you in point of apprehending deserters on either side, were they to appear in a colony of your own ; where your own Gov'_ prevailed, doubtless you would have a right to seize them, but in a free, neutral and independant Government, we do not conceive you can ; nor can we admit that either we or you have any right to use coercive power after they have once engaged on either side, and as this is a practise we have and do observe. we make no doubt of your conformity to the same to prevent the evils that may otherwise ensue to the interuption of the harmony that we with pleasure see subsists between our two factories. As to the unlawful weapons meant in the orders, we understand by it clubs and arms of any kind worn by the common people of both sides, unless on actual duty, and the experience of near six months shews the expediency of those orders, no dispute having happened amongst our people worth noticing since that time.

We think it necessary to apprize you, Gentlemen, in this publick manner that our Superiours at Bombay have been pleased to erect this establishment into a Government and Council by the stile of Chief for Affairs of the British Nation and Governor of the Mogulls Castle and fleet at Surat and Council, and a Commission for this purpose has very lately been duly published by us.

The first subscriber being on his departure, takes this oppertunity of preferring his regard for and taking his leave of you with the sincerest wishes that the harmony at present subsisting between the Factorys may be continued, not only in the Government of ML Price his im- mediate successor, now on the spot, but to future times. At the same time we also assure you, Gentlemen, that we in general remain, w*A esteem,

W° Sir and Sirs, 'Surat, -4'i- December 1759. Your most obedt Humble Servants.

SUn AT DIARirCS. 323

Monday, 10l_* December 1750. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Director and Council : —

Honbl.° Sir and Sirs,

Being informed by your favour of the 4*!? instant that your Superiors at Bombay havp been pleased to erect your establishment at Surat into a Government and Council by the stile observed at the head of this, as far as after our comprehension the nature of the matter can permit, we cannot fail to congratulate you heartily with it, and we, for our part, will never neglect to shew in publick, and in particular to the Chiefs of the European Nations that are established here with us, and principally to those of the British Nation, to which we have more rela- tion than to any other, such honour as they reasonably can expect from us, confiding that also you, Gentlemen, on your side will not be negligent about it, of which we can hardly doubt, when we remember the politeness that Mr _ Spencer offered to us in the while he was managing the affairs here, for which we are very much obliged, and that furnish us great reason to regret his departure. Though the arrival of ML. Price and his talcing up the direction of affairs has not been given notice of to us till now in the usual manner, to wit by sending Deputys, we cann't fail on this occasion to bid him welcome, hoping the beforesaid delay will not be an effect of disregard, and to wish him a praiseworthy Government, likewise to Ml_ Spencer a prosperous passage, and offering our thankf ullness for the proofs he gives us, and those of our's of his good intention.

The same necessity you found, Gentlemen, to give us notice in a publick manner of the present quality of the Gentleman that is Chief of your nation at this place, obliges us to acquaint you in the same manner that three years ago our superiours in Europe were pleased to promote our present Director to the dignity of Councillor Extraordinary for the Dutch Possessions in India, being a character which but few of our Governors are gratified with, and is a degree of advancement for them as well as for the Directors and others that can obtain it, because the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council at Batavia is extending herself over all our Governments and Factories, which consequently gives him a fundamental reason to expect from the civility of the English Companys servants not only here, but elsewhere, that they will give him a title which the Hon!?!8 the Gov_i and Council at Calcutta give him always, when he was no more than Director of Bengali.

We are obliged to you, Gentlemen, for the assent you gave to the erection of the neces- sary buildings at our Bunder. And likewise, it is more just to proceed on both sides in an equal manner about national affairs, we are very willing to comply with your opinion and ex- ample about the deserters, and therefore to take not up for the future any of them, which we know to have equally got service with you, unless the law of retaliation would oblige us to return to the first custom, w^| we only alledg'd in order to justify our behaviour on that subject, and which (give us leave to say it) we continue still to think, gave us a right so to do as we acted.

In the meantime we must complain eagerly of the taking up in the town and putting into the Castle of two qualified servants of our Company, whereof the Moores themselves w hen they were in possession of that Fort as far as we know, gave never any example, at least not about persons of the rank of a Ships Captain, and a Commander of our Garrison; and that Ml, D'Gloss Commander of the Castle, instead of reprimanding in a significant manner the non-commission'd officer that did it contrary to the plain orders which ML. Spencer gave, and, whereof we had communication, about taking up common Europeans that made noise or quarrel in the town, not contending that people belonging to our Nation should be put into the Castle, but conducted U> their Director (he being the only lawful Judge that they have in this case at Surat), as well n*

324 SUB AT DIARIES.

the officer that gave order for it and to do them, understand that this order could not self be extend- ed to Gentlemen of such a character, as on the contrary could take upon him to set his seal to that action, and to offer to the beforementioned stopped Gentlemen to go out, provided that they would give their word of honour to appear before his Chief when it would be required. Of all which the first subscriber acquainted ML. Price in substance by Deputies, only desiring that he would be pleased to give us the small satisfaction to order the two abovementioned Gentlemen that were unlawfully stop'd to be reconducted by an officer of the Castle in an English coash.

"We must confess +ha+. those Gentlemen, by the manner in which they went out and the place where they appeared, gave occasion to pretrnd ignorance who they were, and this is the reason that the Director offered to be satisfied with such a small reparation, and that he could not approve their imprudent behaviour. But, Gentlemen, how can this pretended ignorance be pleaded for Soldiers that deserted from our own Garrison, such there was amongst the men that stopp'd our Gentlemen principally with relation to the Lieutenant & Command of our soldiers? And of what prejudice would it have been to the English Nation and your Company to give us such a small satisfaction in so publick an occurence. Is it not always usual, accords, to the custom of this country, to send honourably away any fellow that has been unjustly stopped ? The Regents that act in this manner, do they think it will in any degree tend to their dis- honour ? or looks the publick upon it in that manner ? Is it just to deny an European Nation that is so near allied to the British as we are, any thing that is granted without hesitation to every honest Native ? Can we, without wilfully imposing upon ourselves, guess by that refusal that there is a true inclination to contribute all that conveniently can be done towards the maintaining of the good harmony between the two Factories, whilst heretofore a private man when he was returned came always accompanied with a Non-commissioned Officer and some soldiers in order to preserve him from any harm or offence by the way ? Tis a grief unto us that there is so much reason to doubt it, the more because on our side we are with true esteem,

Hont1^ Sir and Sirs, Surat, the J0* December 1 759. Your most obedient Servants.

Sent an answer to the foregoing by the hands of Mess™ Bowyer & Stackbouse, who were directed to acquaint the Dutch Directore that the Chiefs Commission would be read tomorrow in a Tent pitched before the Castle : — WL. Sir and Sirs,

By the hands of your Se!?/ we were favoured this morning with yours of this date.

The polite manner in which you congratulate ML Price on his accession to the Govt, here and the other subscribers hereof on being appointed an established Council, claims a retaliation on our part. Permit us therefore to return you our sincere thanks on this occasion, and we do it with the greater pleasure as it furnishes us with an opertunity of returning the complim^ to Ml, Taillefert on that mark of distinction which you here acquaint us he has been hon^L with. It is our earnest desire to live in strict harmony and friendship with your Nation in general, particularly in this City, and although Providence has put many advantages in our hands, be assured they will never be exerted to your prejudice, but that we shall be ready to aid and support you in every instance where you are right, as far as our interest or influence can extend.

SURAT DIARIES. 325

We continue in the same sentiments with respect to Deserters as we wrote you under the 4th ins*, and from which we shall not deviate; consequently your seizing & fforcibly carrying away a man who had voluntarily engaged was a breach of that good freindship we had reason to expect from you. We are willing to impute it to your not knowing the persons being regularly enlisted. The same motive should have influenced you with respect to the Commander of your ship & Lieutenant of Military being carried to the Castle. We wish you had not lain us under a necessity of relating the cause, a Bawdy House quarrell between your officers and our soldiers. It ended in a scuffle in the street in open day close under our Guns in the Castle, which made it the indispensible duty of the Commanding Officer of the Castle to seize all violaters of the publick peace, in which we were sorry to find your officers concerned. You must be sensible, Gentlemen, that on notice being brought thereof to Mj; Price he gave immediate orders for their enlargement before our man had been return'd or even demanded. As you justly observe, it would have been no prejudice to us to have returned your officer in a Coach as your Directore requested, but a tender regard for your credit in the City occasioned our declining it ; for in the eyes of the country people it would have been considered in this light. That your officers were rescued by us from a very ignominious situation, and sent under our protection, to prevent any insult or indignity being offered to them by wretches with whom it pained us to see they had any acquintance or connection. These were our sentiments, and as no slight was intended, we hope you will believe us to be what we are with esteem,

Sir & Sirs, Surat, 10^ December 1759. Your most obedJ6. Servants.

Wednesday, 12^. — Received a letter from the Dutch Directore & Council as follows: —

W£ Sir & Sirs,

In answer to your favour of yesterday with which we were favour'd by the hands of Mess™ Bowyer & Stackhouse, we must in the first place return our thanks for your freindly congratution on the promotion of the first subscriber to the rank of Councellour Extraordinary for the Dutch Possessions in India, of which we gave you notice by our letters of the 12^ March past & 10^ instant.

Since you do us the justice to believe that it is impossible for us to know if our Deserters are actually enlisted with you when they are permitted to go out in their waistcoats or with our own Regimentals we cannot conceive how you can term their being taken up a breach of our good freindship, without having an intention to give the worst interpretation to our actions.

It came never into our minds to impute to you the affront put upon us in seizing & carry- ing into the Castle a Captain of one of our Ships, & the Lieutenant Commander of our Garrison, since we are convinced that it was not done in consequence of the orders that were given. You please to say that this occurrence was occasioned by a quarrell between our officers & your soldiers in a Bawdy House. We disown this in no manner, but we acquainted you already by our precedent letter that we selves blamed their imprudent behaviour whereby they were opposed to such insults & we cannot see, Gentlemen, why you wished we had not lain you under a necessity of relating it. 'Tis not the place that puts any infamy upon a man that is found there, but the bad actions that he commits or the shamefull intention wherewith he comes there, may it be in a Palace or a Church as well as in a Bawdy House, yet 'tis known and in case of necessity it would be lawfully proved, that the beforementioned officers were not gone to that infamous house out of incon-

b 1255—82

326 SVBAT DIARIES.

tinence, or debauchery, nor with any bad intention, but in order to do their duty after the notion their plainness furnished them with ; and we sollicit willingly every body that knows personally the two officers in question, which ai-e both elderly men, to witness if they have any acquaintance or connection with wretches like you seem to suppose ; or if they are capable to seek scuffles in such a house with soldiers or other common people. But it is not to be doubted nor to be wondered at that they fell there in quarrelling, for 'tis a hard thing for a Sea Captain as well as for a Military Officer, that deserters which were formerly under their command dare publickly offer them verbal great injuries, and their honour was engaged to repell force by force. If such as act in this manner can be consider'd as violaters of the publik peace and consequently seized and carried into the Castle, the streets are not safe for any of ourselves that has not with him a numerous attendance, in order to make resistance ; for none of us, one by one, should, ever can, or will bear it for the honour of our nation. We know very well that like it ordinarily happens that the matter has been lain before you in a very different manner than what was reported on our side, but we resign very willingly to you our judgments, if the deposition of deserters and other common people can counterbalance the testimony of honest men whose behaviour is known to be irreprehensible.

Oar Deputys having only reported that Ml Price was of opinion to be not obliged to give any further satisfaction than the immediate orders he gave for the enlargement of the seized officers, it was not possible for us to attribute his declining of returning them in an honourable manner in an English coach, to such cause as you have the complaisance to alledge for the motives of it, whose value or invalidity we will not examine, in order to put a stop to this odious matter, but restrain ourselves only to say that we will be very glad to experience that your dealing with us may agree to your obliging protestations, like we readily confide, and we think to have well merited by our deportment in the time of your last expedition & other- wise.

We are with Esteem, Surat, 11* DecemL 1759. Sir & Sirs,

Your most obedient Servants.

Tuesday, 18^ December 1759. — Signed & sent a Warrant to Cap*. Luis D'Gloss, Com- manding Officer in the Castle for the execution of Augustine Bulley, private soldier, agreable to the sentence passed on him by a Court Martial : —

To Captain Louis D'Gloss,

Commanding Officer of the Forces of the Hon^e the

United English East India Company in the City of Surat.

Sir, By virtue of a power given us by the Hon™e Rich* Bourchier, Esq_L, President and Gov I &cA Council on Bombay for putting in execution the sentence of a Gen^ Court Martial upon Augustine Bully, who having been tried at Bombay agreable to the Articles of War was found guilty of desertion & sentenced to be shot to death by a Platoon of soldiers. This is there- fore to will and impower you to put the said sentence in executiou in the most publick manner on Fryday next, the twenty-first instant, between the hours of nine in the forenoon and three in the afternoon of that day, for which this shall be to you and all others whom it may concern a .sufficient warrant. Given under our hands & seals in Surat this eighteenth day of December,

SURAT DIARIES. 327

in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fifty-nine and in the thirty-third year

of his Majcstys reign.

Wednesday, 19"'- — Sailed a Dutch ship for Batavia.

Thursday, 20°± — Advice was this day received that the Great Mogul had been strangled by the Vizier, and that Shau Jchan, aged twenty-five years, was placed on the Throne.

Dispatch'd an express to the Select Committee to advise them thereof : —

Hon"? Sir & Sirs,

I dispatch this express to your Ilonf &c? to acquaint you that letters are just now received from Dilhi, advising that on the 30!t of last month the Mogul was killed by his Vizier Gazeordy Khan, who invited him to an hunting, and drawing him aside caused him to be strangled interring the body in a garden adjacent to the city called Ayhoo Bag. Shau Jehan, aged about twenty-five years, is exalted to the Throne. This important Revolution its feared will occasion great troubles in the Empire as it's said that Coemur Ally Khan with a numerous body of Horse & some Marattas & Pattans were advancing from Lucknore towards the capital, but I shall use all suitable means to prevent the Hon^L6 Companys revenues or interest in this city being prejudiced from any changes that may happen.

I am, Hon"? Sir & Sirs, Your most obecL* hbi? servl, Surat, 20* December 1759. W m AND? PRICE.

Tuesday, 5% February 1760. — Imported our Hon^1? Masters ship the " Harcourt," Captain \ym Webber, from Bombay. By her recelI the Hon^i the Pres^ and Councils commands of the 29 % ultimo.

Gentlemen,

We have received your letters of the 151^ & 17^ instant, which we shall now reply to, as well as to those we acknowledged under the ll** insA.

We observe that on more mature consideration you are of opinion it will be better to defer sending a congratulatory letter and a small present to the new Mogull, in which we concur, but we cannot consent by any means to your requesting our IIonMi Masters Rights of Priveledges in Surat and their Phirmaunds & Hookums may be renewed or confirmed, as we deem them valid & because such a step would of course be a good plea for rendering them invalid on the demise of every King and every change of Government.

Our QonM* Masters ship " Harcourt," Captain W'il Webber, now proceeds to the Bar for receiving her freight for Mocha. Cap1 Webb«f has been appointed by the Hon^ the Court of Directors Chief Agent for said Ship at Mocha & we have in consequence of their Commands nominated All Samuel Court second Agent & M ■;. George Norton third, Bgteable to which M L Court must embark on her dispatch for Mocha to assist in carrying out instructions into executions relative to their transactions at Mocha. We hope the " Harcourt s " freight having been so long agreed for & her early appearance at the Bar will occasion her being soon fill'd. when you are to deliver the Commander his Dispatches for Mocha & the Agents a manifest of the Frieght, giving them the necessary information in regard to the money lent the Proprietors at Responrentia & putting the Commander under the Agents orders in his future proceedings.

328 SUE AT DIARIES.

By the " Harcourt " we consign you some Purchasers Goods, & comply with your Indent of Broad Cloth & Per pets, as far as we are able, Invoice & Bill of Lading for which are herewith transmitted amounting to Rupees 9158-3-72.

Having thought proper to enforce the order the late Chief gave Captain De Glosse on no time to deliver up the Castle without our orders, notwithstanding you may happen to be under the necessity of requiring him to do it by your persons being under restraint, we enclose said orders for your delivering it to him, wherein you will observe we have inserted a clause that he is nevertheless in every other instance to continue to obey your or the Chiefs orders, that he may not immagine we mean to have him at all less dependent on your authority in other matters.

In the packett is likwise copy of a letter from the accompaniment representing a short credit of six hundred (600) rupees in the Chiefs accounts while he resided at Fort Victoria, together with copies of his letters, Bill of Exchange of Cash Accounts, in order for his rectifying the error to our HonEe Masters satisfaction.

You are in future to send us an account of the cost & chaJL of any cattle at the time you supply us therewith.

Judging it necessary to have a Chaplain at your place & the Reverend Ml Edward Millner having been recommended to us by Vice Admiral Pocock, he now proceeds, to whom you are to pay a salary of 50£ per annum & 50£ more as found deserving, with an allowance of 50 RjL per month for diet & 17 Rl per month for servants wages, all to commence from the twenty- second instant.

Having reflected also on the impropriety of the Roman Catholicks belonging to your Garrison attending the French Chaplain, & learning that the Carmelite Padre named Jacinto is well affected to our interest & acknowledges no subjection to the French, we would have you permit of their attending him, only at Divine Service, in some place near the Castle.

MessrJL George Chalmers & Rich^ Walsh having been promoted to the rank of Lieutenants of Infantry, their Commissions are now forwarded & Ensign Nugent proceeds to relieve the latter, who is to repair hither. ML Nugent has received his pay & allowance to the 29* of Febn with the usual passage money.

We are,

Bombay Castle, 29lA Janua1?/ 1760. Your Loving Friends.

Surat, Wednesday, 12** March 1760.

A narrative of the Battle fought between the armies commanded by LieutL Colonel Coote of his Majestys 84* Regiment, and Commander in Chief of the English Forces on the Coast of Choromandel & Lieutenant General Lally, Commander in Chief of the French Force in India upon the plains of Wandivash the 22i January 1760.

A body of about 2000 Marattas commanded by Innis Caun, the chief officer of Mororow, having joined the enemy at Arcot on the 9* Jan^, their whole army marched the next day, and on the 15*. invested Wandivash. Our army marched to the relief of the place the 21?* and arrived that evening at Isembore, a village about eight miles to the north-east of it. The next morning at daybreak the whole army moved from Isembore towards Wandivash. Between 7 & 8 o'clock the enemys Cavalry appeared, whereupon our Horse and some Companys of Seepoys with two pfL of Cannon were ordered to advance upon them, which did some execution. Our Army

8UBAT DIARIES. 320

then inclined to the right for about two miles still continuing skirmishing with the enemy. At ten o'clock the two Armys cannonaded each other very briskly for about an hour. The enemya Line of Infantry then marching up, our army advanced to attack them; and Colunel Coote perceiving a tumbril of Annnenution to blow up on their left, M ijor Brereton with Co' Drapers Regiment was ordered to wheel & flank them, upon which occasion they behaved with remark- able gallantry. The two armies continuing to advance upon each other the whole time, made the action general, which lasted till two o'clock, when the enemy were put to the rout, & fled under cover of their Cavalry, in which they ha 1 a great superiority, and left us masters of the Field of Battle. Brigadier General Bussy, Colonel M lrphy, the Chevalir De Gjdeville, Quarter- Master General, an 1 fourteen inferior o.Ticers are taken prisoners. The enemy had 600 men killed & wounded of which 20 ) were killed oa the spjt. We are masters of their whole Camp, Baggage and Artillery, consisting of twenty-one p fr of Cannon of which 6 are twenty-four and eighteen Pounders. Our loss in the action is as follows : — Ensigns Stuart, Collins & Evans killed and ten 0 .fleers wounded, Major Brereton am mqjst the latter, & it is fearei dangerously, & one hundred & ninety non-Commissioned & private killed & wounded. Ml J .ally with the remains of the French Army retired to their Garrisons of Chelleput & Gingey.

An account of the Proceedings of the Dutch in Bengal toward the close of the year 1759.

An armament from Batavia consisting of six ships with 500 European troops on board and 600 Burgesses or Malays commanded by Colonel Roussel, having touch'd at Negapatatn, proceeded from thence to Bengal, where they arrived the beginning of October.

Notwithstanding the Subah of Bengals express commands to the Directore & Council at Hughly to prevent this armament proceeding up the river, they nevertheless advanced very near Tannah Fort, where they thought proper to land their men rather than attempt to force then- passage by the Batteries we had erected on the banks of the river. On the flrst intelligence- of their being on shore, Colonel Forde with all the Military in Calcutta was ordered to proceed to the French Gardens and prevent the Dutcli party from getting into Chinsura, in consequence of which Colonel Forde thinking it necessary to advance to the N£ward of Chandern igjre, entered that town on the 21^' of November, where his advanced guard was fired upon by a de- tachment of Dutch who had marched out of Chinsura with intent to join & strenghten the party expected from their ships. Upon this an action ensued, wherein about 40 Dutch were killed and taken with all their Cannon consisting of 5 pJ.. Colonel Forde that evening having intelligence that the party from their ships was advancing to Chinsura, march'd early the next morning in order to intercept them and was so fortunate as to meet them on a plain at some distance from Chinsura. On our troops appearing the enemy (consisting of near 700 Europeans & 600 Burgesses) advanced with great resolution, but received so smart a fire from our Artillery & Battalion, that they in a short time gave way and were totally routed. The success of this action, considering the very small number of Europeans we had in the field, greatly exceeded our expectation, for very few of the enemy escaped being killed or taken prisoners. Matters being carried thus far, we quickly receJ? proposals of accomodation from the Oirectore & Council of Chinsura, and in consequence thereof a Treaty has been concluded betwixt them and the Nabob & between them and us. Of prisoners taken on this occasion upwards of 330 have voluntarily entered into our service, the remainder are embarked on board their ships which were about to leave the river the 3\L instant. b 1255-83

330 SURAT DIARIES.

The Dutch Commodore having stop't & searched several of our vessels, the Commanders of the " Calcutta," " Duke of Dorset," and " llarwicke," were directed to make reprisals, and accordingly the ship on which the Commodore was aboard with four others were taken after an action of two hours. They have since been delivered up, agreeably to the articles agreed on by both partys & restitution is to be made us for the damages & losses we have sustained on the occasion.

Wednesday, 4lh June 1760. — The Chief received the following letter from the French Resident complaining of his having been insulted in the streets by some Seepoys belonging to the lIonlie Company : — Sir, It is not said in the priveledges which the French Nation enjoys at Surat, that it i» patiently to put up with affronts whether from European Nations or the Government of the city. That which I just now received is of such a nature as requires ample and speedy satisfac- tion. An hour ago I was returning from the French Gardens, I was insulted in the city which belongs to the Mogull, in consequence thereof I immediately sent a Protest to the Nabob in order that he might make me reparation ; and they were your people, Sir, who, not contented with refusing to let me pass, carried their insolence so far as to draw the sword upon my Peons and Servants and put their musquets upon my Coach when I and my Brother were in it. There- fore as Chief of the French Nation at Surat, I likewise protest against you in the name of the King, my master, and demand immediate satisfaction proportionable to the publick insult I have received. I wait, Sir, for your answer and that of the Nabobs, that I may advise my superiours accordingly. You have herwith enclosed the letter that I wrote to the Nabob upon this subject; and tomorrow I shall dispatch with the greatest speed to Pondicherry to make a report of this affair, the sequel of which may be of the greatest consequence. I request you will consider thereof and in the meantime remedy it.

I have the honour to be very truely, Your most humble and obedient Servant, French Factory, the 4& Jwne 1760. ANQUETIL de BREAN COURT.

Orders were hereupon immediately issued to the Commander of the Forces to make the necessary enquirys thereinto. The following is his report there : —

Sir,

By order of Cap ). DeGloss I now send you the defence of Shaik Mihmud Jimledar in Govindjees Company who is charged with insulting the French Resident this morning in the street leading to the Mecca Gate.

Shaik Mahmud Jimledar says that coming to a narrow place in the street at the head of his Guard he saw a Coach with a Gentleman in it driving up towards him, upon which he ordered his people to incline to one side to let the Coach pass, but while he was speaking to his people to that purpose a Fersee servant came to him and gave him a shove to one side. The Jimledar upon that asked him if he had not eyes in his head, or if he did not see him, or if he wanted to quarrell with him, to which the servants replyd (who had got several Seepoys about him by this

SURAT DIARIES.

time, belonging to his master), Why dont you make way for the French Chief ? The Jimledar answered, You see I am making way for him as much as possible, and during their discourse the coach being now come up to them stop'd a little time till the Guard m;ule way for its passing, but no more words pass'd, the Gentleman iu the coach only pointing his finger & shaking his head at him.

The above is confirmed by Brawsing, Duffedar in Prang Sings Company, & Cannojeo Sindy Naik in lialkers C ° .

The bearer hereof is the Jimledar in question and the Duffedar and Naik are along with him.

I am with the utmost respect,

Si Surat Castle, A% June 1760. Your most obedl & humble Servant,

GtiO. CIIALMERS,

Adji. Signed by the Interpreter and a Witness.

Tliursday, 5lh. — The people abovementioned were again examined by the Chief and confirmed their declaration before set forth. He wrote the following letter to the French Resident : — Sir,

I was yesterday favoured with a letter from you complaining of your having been affronted by some people belonging to the IIonble Company, which very much surprized me, as all their Dependants have positive orders to behave in a respectfull manner towards every body, more especially those of an European nation. I issued immediate orders to the Commander of our Forces to make the proper enquiry into this affair, the result of which convinces me that your people were the aggressors by one of your servants actually striking an officer of ours marching down at the head of his Guard, who out of decency to you did not resent it in the manner it deserved, for which I shall not fail to chastize him. This being the case, I must in my turn demand that you give that servant a proper punishment, and protest against you for the ill consequences that may attend your not complying therewith.

I must observe to you that the Hon^le Company Seepoy Officers always march with drawn Sabres at the head of their men, which I presume you construed into an insult upon you.

I have the honour to be, 5% June 1760. Sir,

Your most obed K and most hbIe Servant.

Saturday, 7*. — Received a Letter from the French Resident, of which the foUowing is translate : —

Gentlemen,

It is needless to impart to you the affront that I received four days ago. The publick rumour will no doubt have made you acquainted therewith, besides the letter which I wrote to M,I Price on this subject and of which you have a copy herewith enclosed can inform you

332 SURAT DIARIES.

particularly regarding the insult for which I demand satisfaction. Be so good as to read the same, and you will afterwards easily perceive that the reparation that I require cannot be refused without injustice. A Chief accompanied by all those who form the body of his nation affronted in a free city in the middle of the streets by a Guard of Black Soldiers, ought to demand reparation, not pass over in silence this insult of the highest nature.

You know too well, Gentlemen, the respective rights of nations not to punish a procedure of this kind. I expected this Justice from M* Price, but I perceive by his answer, which I desire you likewise to read, that he has been very badly informed concerning this affair by the Commandant of the Troops, without which the Justice natural to all men, and which ought to characterize all persons in station, would have procured me from him not a Letter which makes the insult that I received still greater, but full and entire satisfaction. M L Price by his answer puts me on a footing with a Black Fellow in regard to an affair for the truth of which in the station I am I ought to be beleived on my word ; nevertheless, the contrary happens to be the case upon an information well or badly made by the Commandant of the Troops. Credit is given to what a Jummedar says, who, as he is in fault, will naturally excuse himself, and no regard is paid to the letter of a Chief of a nation who complains & demands satisfaction for an insult he has received in his own person. I leave to your reflection the decency of the parallel.

Is this, Gentlemen, the good policy which the four first lines of Ml. Prices letter make mention of ? The insult that I have received is rather the consequence of the letter and of this letter. To what extremity should I not see myself actually reduced to had I the imprudence to go about. The Jummedar blaimed for not having done his duty, that is to say, apparently for not having cut my people in peices, will not fail the first opportunity in order not to mind a reprimand, entirely to discharge the duty of his trust. He will fire upon me if I do not give him the way in the middle of a street which belongs to the Mogull. To avoid the carnage that might ensue, being determined not to give up the rights of my nation, I find myself obliged therefore to stay at home.

If this Jummedar did his duty in disputing me the Passage and by committing violence to my people, which appears, Gentlemen, by the letter of your Chief, be so good, if you please, to tell me, because I know nobody but the Nabob in the city. Your Guards have no right over me, and so long as you are yourselves only masters of the Castle, I ought not to give up any thing, and indeed I will not, except to him who commands in the city and who represents the Mogull. If as Arbiters of Surat you pretend to have all authority in the place, and that even to the Chiefs of Nations, every one here ought to be subordinate to you, I request of you therefore to advise me thereof. I will in such case inform my superiours, who will not fail to order me instantly to leave Surat. If on the contrary things are upon the same footing in which M f Spencer left them and the neutrality really exists in it, the national prerogatives are the same, the subordination in the city ought to be kept only towards the Nabob, the Chief of Nations should be respected therein, as they have always been, and the affronts offered to them or to their dependants, far from being sustained or palliated, should be punished with the utmost rigour.

These are I think the intentions of Bombay, from which the reparation I demand naturally follows, and which I cannot desist from asking, otherwise I should be wanting in duty to my. King who has received a signal affront in my person, and I should infringe the priveledges which the French Nation enjoys at Surat and which I am answerable for in quality of Chief.

Having maturely examined the contents of this letter, you cannot, Gentlemen, dispence with ordering me the satisfaction which the insult committed by your people requires. If you have reasons for refusing me, I expect that you will communicate them, that my superiors and yours

SURAT DIARIES. 383

may be made acquainted therewith, & I beg of you to consider that the measures which Pondi- chery will assuredly take on this occasion may be of fatal consequence to Surat,

I have the honour to be very truly, Grentlemen, Your most obedient & humble Servant, French Factory, 7* June 1760. ANQUETIL de BRIAN COURT.

Sunday, 8 i*. — The above letter being taken into consideration the people noticed in the Adjutants report again examined and confirming their former declaration : also Shaik Jummal, an inhabitant of the street where the affair happened affirming the same, wrote the following letter to the French Resident : —

Si,

We have received your letter with copy of that wrote to the Chief and his reply, and whereupon summoned such people before us as could give us any knowledge or insight in the dispute which has lately happened and in which you seem to think yourself insulted, and from copies of their depositions herewith inclosed it is evident your people were the agressors ; consequently, we cannot recede from the Cheifs declaration in regard to your Persee servant. As you are of opinion our superiours in Bombay will be of your sentiments on this subject, we shall transmit all the papers relative thereto for their cognizance and direction, and in the meantime we assure you that you and your dependance may safely go abroad and transact their business without fear of affront or insult from any people belonging to the Hon1?!? English Company, provided those of your Factory are not the agressors.

We are Sir, Sural, #* June 1 760. Your most obedl h^e Servants.

Thursday, 3r^July 1760. — Received the Hon^Le the President and Councils Commands as follows : —

Gentlemen,

The accompanying is duplicate of our last, since when we have received your letters of the 9*jL & 134JL instant.

We shall defer ordering you to strike of the Prov_! allowed your Garrison till you have settled a cartell with the Dutch for the mutual return of deserters.

With respect to the complaint made by Mons r. Briancourt, we think the Chief would have acted more prudently if he had sent one of your Board to have waited on him in order that you might by that means have known what he had to urge in support of his complaint, and as by his letter to us he highly resents your conduct on this occassion, we would have you make a full and impartial examination into the affair and give Mons_L Briancourt timely notice of it, at the same time desiring him to send to you whatever evidences he may have, when we recommend to you to settle it in an easy and amicable manner. In the Packett is our reply to him & copy thereof for your observation.

b 1255—84

334 SURAT DIARIES.

We agree to your repairing the vessells on your establishment, agreeable to copy of the report survey transmitted us on the 13*^. instant.

Not having received a State of the investment & account current with the contractors for a considerable time, you are to forward the same by the first oppertunity, & as you have not yet drawn out the abstract we ordered in our letter of the 15* November last, we enclose a Form for your better complying therewith as soon as you are able.

Having referred to the Superintendent what you represented regarding the " Tanka " Grab, as also the Commanders account of his proceedings, we in consequence thereof direct that you suspend him from our Hon^ Masters service, and direct him to repair hither after the rains, that you sell the Hull of that vessel at public outcry for the most it will fetch, and transmit us an inventory of the stores belonging to her, specifying their condition, that we may give you orders concerning them.

Let CapA Lieut^. Degur be required to hold himself in readiness for returning hither by the first proper conveyance at the opening of the season.

We are, Bombay Castle, 25t}L June 1760. Your loving Freinds.

Copy of the Hon^? the Pres *_ & Council their letter to MonsI, Briancourt.

Sir, — We have received your favour of the 13* instant with the accompanying papers, in which we are sorry to observe that you have had occassion to address us on such an affair and the more so that M_L Price did not prefer sending a member of his Council to wait on you when first apprised of it to have enquired into particulars, that he might by that means have known what you had to urge in support of the complaint and in order to afford you such reparation as the case requires. We now direct M L. Price and Council to make a full and impartial scrutiny into the affair & give you, Sir, timely notice that you may produce whatever evidences you may have to adjust this unlucky difference, and when we hope it may be terminated to your satisfaction, as we shall be always ready (as far as we consistently can) to promote it, for it is our desire & intention that the Rights of European Nations in Surat be preserved, that th6 we are at variance in other parts, in that city a strict neutrality be observed in all shapes.

We are,

Bombay Castle, 25l]L June 1760. Sir,

Your most obedJL and humble Servants.

Surat, Saturday, 5% July 1760. At a Consultation, Present :

William Andrew Price, Esql_, Chief. Cecil Bowyer. Tho*_ Mostyn.

Nath : Stackhouse. | John Halsey.

Read & approved our last Consultation of the 30* ultimo. Read the Hon^5 the Pres %. & Councils Commands of the 3rd ins *_.

Resolved that Wednesday the 9*Jl instant be appointed for re-examining into Mj_ Brian- courts complaint & M r Nathaniel Stackhouse be deputed to wait upon him to desire he will send any evidences he may have in order that this affair may be easily & amicably adjusted. Proper orders to be issued for taking an inventory & condition of the "Tankas" stores to be forwarded to the Presidency.

SURAT DIARIES. 885

Wheat still continuing very low & hearing that it bears an advantageous price at Bombay, Resolved that we address our Superiors for permission to send what old wlx-at is remaining in the Castle thither.

Read a letter from the Paymaster, representing to the Board that he believes he shall be able to purchase the stones wanted for the Castle at about five annas each, but as we are not at present in want of them — Ordered the purchase be deffered.

Adjourned.

W. A. PRICE. CECIL BOWYER. THOJL MOSTYN. NATfi. STACKHOUSE. J. HALSEY.

Account salary the 9^, paid the Hon^l? Companys covenanted servants their salary from 2 *. January to the Is*. insJL inclusive: —

William Andrew Price, Esquire, Chief ML Cecil Bowyer, Junior Merchant

„ Thomas Mostyn, Factor ...

„ Reader of Divine Service

„ Nathaniel Stackhouse, Factor

„ John Halsey, Factor The Rev 1.ML Milner, Chaplain

D 2_ d 9_ as found deserving

M L- RitchiL Main waring, Surgeon

Ballance

Mo.		£		per Annum.
... 6		S100		400
... 6		30		120
... 6		15		60
... 15		12-	-10	9-2-86
... 6		15		60
... 6		15		60
... 5	11	150		178-3-60
... 5	11	50		178-3-60
... 3		36		72
				1139 2 6
...				95438 3 3
		Rupees	134064 2 4

Sunday, 29 L* March 1761. — Copy of M.JL. Spencers Letter to y.L Governor & Council of Bombay : — Hon^l? Sir & Sirs,

As you have been pleased to require my opinion in respect to y £_ Chief and Council re- siding in the Castle of Surat, and the Honbl! Companys continuing to hold the old factory or not in the City, I shall beg leave to trouble you with the following remarks w!* may be necessary for your coming to some Resolution on this occasion.

A residence in y|_ Castle for y ?_ chief and factors wou'd seem to any one not acquainted with the present circumstances of Surat the most eligible measure, and to be what wou'd give great security to our possession of it, yet there are some other circumstances that may perhaps make it appear not so proper a step to our Hon^? Masters when they were apprized of them, and they are these.

Our requisition of the Castle and " Tanka " and the share we possess in consequence thereof in yiL revenues, and in fact of the Goverument of the place, renders it absolutely necessary for the Chief to have frequent meetings with those in power, especially the Naib

336 SURA T DIARIES.

Nabobs family, & sometimes the Nabob himself, besides being always easy of access to y_L principal people of the place out of Government that have complaints of opression to make, or sometimes useful advice or information to give The custom of the country, especially among the Moguls, is a great parade of armed attendants, more or less, according to station of Ranks, sometimes to the number of several hundreds. This their mutual jealousy of each other, exclusive of its being a customary Indian parade, renders it with them a thing indispen- sible. To admit this number, or even such a number as they should think necessary, into yiL Castle wouM be unsafe, and liable to many accidents from the irregularity of their people & our own. To refuse them wou'd create jealousies and suspicions, & wou'd by them be inter- preted as offending & lessening their dignity, and betraying a want of confidence in them, and cause a suspicion & disgust, and in the end be productive of confusion of disputes, as, from a mutual distrust, they wou'd decline taking over affairs in person, as now practised, and the whole would be left to under servants of both sides, who might have an interest in fomenting jealousies to make themselves masters. It is true they have a confidence in us and in our words, but it will & must be a work of time to make them shake off entirely their own customs & prejudices, & accommodate themselves to our customs, reasonable as they are, and till they do I should think a constant residence of the Chief in the Castle should be dispensed with, or at least if he does reside there some place without should be appointed to receive the daily visits of the country people, and the public visits of the Dutch and other European Nations at Surat.

Our old Factory is certainly most vilely situated, being in place surrounded by buildings that command it, and which wou'd render it but too easy a thing to shut up the Chief & Factors therein could the disaffected hope to derive any advantage from it, or induce the Chief &JL to consent to part with y^ Castle to extricate themselves from trouble, as was once the case. Being aware of this, I gave the officer commanding in y «_ Castle the standing order that has since been approved of, & inf orced by this Board, that in case by any such attempt our persons were restrained, the officer for the time being in the Castle was not to regard any orders of the Factory that extended in any shape to the delivery of the Castle, or to hazard our possession of it, and besides this precaution such posts were established between the Factory & the Castle by the land, that together with the Latty Water Gate being in our possession, we could not easily be prevented in retiring to the Castle on occasion, and while the caution is observed & proper intelligence kept up in the city, nothing of this nature can well happen.

Notwithstanding the above, the old Factory is certainly a most improper residence from its bad situation, and it should be judged that for merchantile concerns we should remain within yfL walls of the inner city, the new Factory & Latty would be a more proper place than the old, but then it wou'd require a considerable expence to make proper accomodations for the Chief and Factors, and some additional warehouses ; and even this spot is lessened in its value in point of situation to what it was formerly, for from the sands that have been thrown up in the River opposite to our Water Gate & Latty, it's only at particular times of tide that business can be done there, for at some time of tide there is not water enough for a Pinnace, and makes business with the large Surat Boats at all times go on but slowly ; yet with all these disadvantages it is to be preferred to y-jL old Factory for a residence, which but for the posts occupied by us, as abovementioned (which we cannot positively pronounce that accident may not deprive us off) has no communication with y 2^ River ; but though the Latty warehouses are large & commodious, others wou'd still be wanting, & it wou'd require besides a very considerable expence to make it even tollerably commodious for the whole Factory.

The bad situation of the old Factory, & the new Factory being rendered so little convenient for Trade by the sands thrown up in the River, often led me when at Surat to look upon the

8URAT DIARIES. W

Bunder we have acquired lately, called the Seydee Tengue Bunder, as the most proper spot for our estahlishmcnt, & which from its situation wou'd add strength even to our possession of the Castle itself. There is a place between it & our gardens belonging to the Chillabies, which they might be induced to part with, & then the spot wou'd be compleat, & a number of weavers & other usefull people would draw near you if it should be necessary to give your protection to such, and besides it's a fine situation, close to the Rivers side & the entrance of the town that way, & wou'd not only from it's situation prevent your being at any time surprized, but always keep open your communication with the Castle, let what would happen, & is in some degree protected by it. Besides, it's a place where your vessels are stationed during the rains. & wou'd afford a mutual protection to one another ;& that place is so proper for business, that at all times of tide the largest boats can come close to it. Another consideration that has more weight with me than all is this, that you have the Dutch Bunder then between the Castle and your Principal Establishment, in such a manner that they could not, so situated, attempt any thing to our prejudice, were they so inclined; but their situation is changed so much for the real benefit of their Company, that I should rather think nothing of this sort will be attempted by them, wdiile our affairs are prudently conducte 1, but should designs contrary to expectation be harboured by them, I know no greater check that wou'd be to them than the Castle & such a situation.

Some warehouses and additional buildings for better accomodating of the Chief &Jr wou'd be in such case requisite, the nature of them & number on actual survey on the spot wou'd determine. However, I now deliver to your Honor &_£_ a survey of that quarter of the Town, including the O'tway Gate possessed by us, & a perspective view towards the River. In case our Honw_? Masters should determine on this place, the new Factory & what belongs to the Company of the old might be disposed off very well, especially the new Factory & Latty, & it wou'd ease them not only of a considerable annual expence of & repairs on some of the Buildings of the old Factory that are not their own property but only rented, but would entirely free us from the inconveniences our present situation submits us to, & the Trade we carry on might be done full as well in respect to the city, at the Bunder, as at the old or new Factory.

The whole is submitted to your Honor &c* consideration, & if thought proper what is here set forth, might be sent to Surat for the sentiments of the Gentleai -n there, as, since my having y • place some circumstances may have made, what I here advance, more or less convenient than when I was there.

The HonbIe President has himself resided at Surat, & knows the situation, & two of the members of this Board were there during the time of my residence, & I think are as much convinced as I can be of the inconveniences of our factories & y •_ utility the spot recommended wou'd be off. On the whole, therefore, I cannot but give it as my opinion that your Honor &% will do the HonbL0 Company essential service in removing their Factory to the place I have pointed out.

I am, with respect, Bombay, the 23<*l. Mar. 1761. Honbl? Sir & Sirs,

Your most obedJv. humble Servant,

JOHN SPENCER.

(True Copy.)

DANJi DRAPER,

Secretary.

b 1255—85

338 SURAT DIARIES.

Surat, Tuesday, 4!?L August 1761. At a Consultation, Present :

William Andrew Price, Esq JL, Chief ; Cecil Bowyer. Thomas Mostyn.

Nathaniel Stackhouse.

J no. Stephenson, indisposed. Read and approved our last Consultation of the 25^ ultimo.

Likewise our Superiors commands just now received, and taking into consideration that part regarding the proclaiming his present Majesty George the Third, we are of opinion that a tent pitched before the Castle is the most proper for this purpose. That the day after tomorrow be appointed for this solemnity, a Woyal Salute with three vollies of small arms being fired from the Castle, together with a salute from the Fleet, and all people under the HonWe Companys protection required to attend, and to prevent any jealousy on the part of the Nabob, that a Deputation of two of the Council be sent to him to acquaint him with our intention, and that it relates solely to our Garrison and the people under the Hon^l! Com- panys protection.

CECIL BOWYER. THOMAS MOSTYN.

Approved,

JN o. STEPHENSON.

Thursday, 0*. — The Chief and Council, the Officers Military and Marine, and people trading ander the Hon^ Companys protection together with the Nabobs son, the Naib and principal officers of the Government attending at the Tent, his most Gracious Majesty George the Third Was proclaimed under a discharge of the cannon and small arms of the Castle and the cannon of the fleet.

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to his Devine mercy our late most Gracious Sovereign Lord George the Second of ever blessed memory, by whose decease the Imperial Crowns of Great Britain, France and Irland, as also the Supream Dominion and Sovereign Right of the Castle and Island Bombay, and all other his lot of Majestys Dominions on the coast of India, Persia and Arabia are solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince George of Wales, we therefore the Chief and Council for all forces and affairs of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, at their settlement of Surat, subordinate to and dependant upon the aforesaid Island of Bombay, the officers of the Companys Troops, the Commander of the Companys Marine and all others trading under the Noble Companys protection at Surat, do now hereby with one full voice and consent of Tongue and Heart, pub- lish and proclaim that the High and mighty Prince George, Prince of Wales, is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Supream Lord of the Castle and Island Bombay, and all other his late Majestys Territories and Dominions, on the Coast of India, Persia and Arabia, to whom we do acknow- ledge all faithfull and constant obedience, with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal King George the Third with long and

SURAT DIARIES.

330

happy years to reign over us. Given at Surat this Sixth Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one.

God save the King. JOHN SCOTT. WILLIAM LANE.

EDWAKD NUGENT. LUIS DuHOSS.

JOHN MASTERSON. GEO. WHITE. GEORGK GOODCHILD. GEO. CHALMERS. JOHN CHAMBERS. JOHN HOCLLERITZ.

W. A. PRICE. CECIL BOWYER. THOMAS MOSTYN. NATH. STACKHOUSE.

Snndiy, <?<*_ Reptembpr 1761. — Copy of the Committee of Accounts their Remarks under the 20_y? August on the accounts received from Surat : —

In the Military Pay Masters disbursements for March there appears an extraordinary charge exhibiting Fireworks on the reduction of Ponticherry rupees 412-2-25 and again appears in the Land Pay Masters disbursements for April a charge of the same time ... ... ... ... ... ... 294 1 85

707 0 10

The suffering a charge of this nature to appear in different Pay Masters accounts looks as if meant to hide the largeness of it, as it certainly is an exorbitant sum, the particulars of which should be sent to the Presidency.

CHARLES CROMMELIN. THOMAS BYFELD. WILLIAM HORNBY. ROBERT HALFORD. •BENJAMIN JERVIS.

Surat, Tuesday, 19%. January 1762. Gentlemen, Without doubt you cannot be ignorant of the violence that was offered me some days ago by the Nabob Meamud by putting an affront of the grossest kind on the French Nation. The Flag of his most Christian Majesty has it any how angered the Moors, to whom our ships shew so much favor in granting them the liberty of Trade, whenever they are met furnished with a French Pass. Permit me, Gentlemen, to ask you what right the Nabob of Surat has to infringe upon the previleges granted to the French Nation by the Great Mogul Aurangzebe his master and break the neutrality which is the life of his city i Is it permitted him be- cause I am alone here to send into my house, where I am my own master, from seven to eight hundred men armed with lances, hatches, bows, arrow & musquets. Will you pass over in silence such audacity ? Is it not violating the right of the people and even that of hospitality to give orders to his Seepoys to surround the French Garden, to invest my house, take posses- sion of all the rooms therein, to go even into the apartments of my wife, and in my presence to do such improper things as breathed nothing but indecency and pillage ? Whilst I was engaged with this mutinous mob who surrounded me even to my office, without waiting for

340 SURAT DIARIES,

iny answer to know the reason of their coming, the Jumidar gave an order to his people to take possession of my two Cannon, which were an umbrage to them, and to cut the mast of the Flag.

These two things done in my sight, Gentlemen, provoked me in such a manner that I was not myself. I threw myself amongst them, and obliged those who were near me to put these two Cannon in their places again, which they did. This vivacity had very near cost me dear. The matches of their pieces were already lighted. They waited only for the signal to fire upon me and my family. But the sight of my wife big with child and near her some & all in tears making me apprehend some fatal accident, calmed my fire, and saved us all from massacre and pillage. The Nabob, not satisfied with having struck the Flag of the King my master, who has always shewn him favour by protecting his ships, caused immediately the mast to be dug up, erected near oue hundred years ago.

Will he say, Gentlemen, that that which he has caused to be dug up was erected about a month since ? To this I answer that the old mast having been burnt three years ago by accident, is yet looked upon as now subsisting. As to what regards the Flag, let him shew me his authority for striking it, as well as to you, Gentlemen, whom this affront ought to affect in the most lively manner. Will he object by saying that I have not asked his permis- sion ? A previlege once obtained of the thing, is it customary to solicit the Minister for the enjoyment thereof ? Let him peruse the Perwannah granted to the French by Aurangzebe, a copy of which is no doubt in the Durbar, he will see how much he has violated all decency. He will add perhaps that for these forty years the French Flag has not been hoisted in Surat. Is that a reason, Gentlemen, that it may not now be ? The Flag was flying forty years ago in open day. The negligence of the French must certainly have given room for this, and not the debts of the old Company, which the new never took upon themselves. It has not been judged proper to replace it since, and the 2d of this month I caused it to be hoisted without any ceremony or form. Wherein am I hlameable, Gentlemen ?

A silence for fifteen days on the part of the Nabob upon this subject makes me believe that he has looked over his Registers for something that may authorize his unprecedented proceeding. But it appears he has found nothing, as he cannot produce to me any order from the Mogull for these forty years past to strike it. I have therefore a right to hoist it when I please, as I am provided with a Perwannah that Aurangzeb granted the French in his time which is of the same tenour as that of your Royal Nation. Why, Gentlemen, should I ask the Nabobs leave for a thing which I have a right to and which has always existed ? This per- mission, shou'd I ask it, wou'd make it look like a new thing. The French Flag in Surat is not new, but you know as well as myself that from the moment of the existence of our privileges it was flying, and that since there never has been an order from the Mogull to strike it.

But it is not necessary, Gentlemen, to say any thing more on this subject. You are so well acquainted with the rights of European Nations established in Surat, and furnished with Perwannahs from the Mogull, that I need not make a detail thereof in this letter. I request of you therefore in the name of the friendship which subsists at Surat between your nation and ours— I am not afraid to make use of the expression — the neutrality, which alltho' enemies elsewhere, makes us all friends in this city authorize me thereto— I request of you therefore to help me in replacing the French Flag which the Nabob has caused to be struck against all justice the 17* of this month. Permit me also to claim your witness in regard to the affront incurred on this occasion, and to protest to you against the violence which the Moors have lately committed in the French Garden,

SURAT DIARIES. 341

If you do not assist me in this affair, being the only French man here with my family, destitute of all succour, I am exposed every moment to pillage and perhaps to something worse. In pleading my cause to you it is yours that I plead. What happens to me today, may happen to you tomorrow, and there is nothing but the good harmony which reigns here among the European Nations that can keep these barbarians in awe, to whom the least indul- gence given may lead them to extremities. If on the contrary you take my letter into con- sideration, the acknowledgment the French Nation will make you sooner or later will be so much the greater as the service you will render them therein is eminent.

I have the honor to be, with respect, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient and most humble Servant, ANQUETIL DeBRIANCOURT.

French Garden at Surat, 22 J* December 1 761.

Surat, Monday, the 26t}x July 1762. This day the Nabob blocked up the Dutch in their Factory and Bunder, having for some time past received several insults from them, particularly in two instances within these few days, viz. their beating and otherwise maltreating some workmen and Seepoys employed by his orders in stopping a window (by building a wall up close to it) they had lately knocked out and which proves a nuisance to Sewram Bushie Desay of Sundivie, concerning which Mynheer Kelly had applied to the Chief some days before, who sent to the Desay and en- deavoured all in his power to settle the dispute amicably, but the Desay returned for answer that he was determined never to return to his house again till that window was stopped up ; also their forcing from his Seepoys a Gentoo woman whom he had ordered to be apprehended for causing her mothers body to be burnt, notwithstanding she had professed herself a Mahometan for nigh seven years and keeping both her and the Seepoys in their Factory.

Surat, Wednesday 28 * July 1762. At a Consultation, Present :

The WfL Thomas Hodges, Esq_L, Chief. Cecil Bowyer. Charles Whitehall.

Thomas Mostyn. I Nathaniel Stackhouse.

Robert Gambier. John Stephenson.

Read and approved our last Consultation of the 16^ instant.

The Nabob having of late received several insults from the Dutch as mentioned under the 26t.h. instant, and we judging this no bad opportunity and for the interest of the Hon!*8 Company as well as future tranquility of the place to have mortars and heavy Cannon above six Pounders with their shot and shells taken from them, have this day caused the same to be privately hinted to the Nabob, in order that they may be sent on their own ships to Batavia ; but as it is possible the Dutch may, if drove to extremities, make use of what force they have, which from the best accounts we can get consists of about 150 military and marine, against the Nabob, who in such case will most likely apply to us for assistance in behalf of the Mogull, agreed to dispatch a Pattamar " Express " to the Governor in Council at Bombay to desire they b 1255—86

342 SURAT DIARIES.

will give us their immediate and explicit orders how we must act in such case and to acquaint them all that we have hitherto done openly in this affair in reinforcing the Mecca Gate and ordering that no armed men should pass.

THOS HODGES.

CECIL BOWYER.

CHA. WIIITEHILL.

THO_§_ MOSTYN.

RZ GAMBIER.

JNO STEPHENSON.

Saturday, the 31^. July 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Chief & C^: —

W^ Sir & Sirs,

The situation in which we have been in respect to the City Governor, Meer Moynodin Caun, since the 26^ of this month cannot be unknown to you, as there is no one in Surat ignorant thereof. Our Factory in the City and our gardens at Nugee Bunder have been very strictly surrounded since that day by the Troops and Cannon of the Nabob without our Company having given the least occasion for it. The reasons which they alledge for acting in this manner to us, altho' very slight, are notwithstanding too long to be related here, as every day they found out some fresh pretensions, and the danger we are in is too greatly pressing to stop here, so that we must send the recital thereof by another opportunity. This is therefore only to betake ourselves to you for refuge as subjects of a Crown that is strictly allied to our Re- publick by treaties and alliances as well as by the ties of religion, and to request you will grant us your powerful mediation in this affair in the most friendly manner, and as we cannot depute any of our Council to go to you, to send as soon as possible only one of your Council to our said gardens, to whom we will give a full account of the whole, likewise to get leave from the Nabob that during the negotiation, in order to bring about an amicable accommoda- tion immediately, we be not put under any further restraint nor attacked in the interim. From the friendship and good harmony which subsists between us we expect from you the same good offices that we afforded you in 1752 on a like occasion, and we have the honor to be, with true esteem,

Gentlemen, Surat, 81* July 1762. Your most obed %. & most humble Servants.

Sunday the lsLAugust 1 762. — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Chief & Council : — W°, Sir & Sirs,

Last night we had the honour to receive your favour of yesterdays date, agreeable to which we now send this by MessEL Stackhouse & Gambier, who will assure you of our readiness to oblige you in accepting the office of mediators between you & the Nabob of this city, so far as may be consistent with our trusts, which you are well acquainted with.

We have the honour to be, Surat, H. August 1762. W° Sir & Sirs,

Your most humble Servants.

SURAT DIARIES. 343

Thursday, the 6% August 1 762.— Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Chief & Council :— W« Sir & Sirs,

Your favour of yesterdays date we received last night. Be assured, Gentlemen, we are not unmindful of your unhappy situation or of our engagement in your behalf, but the Moor holidays, together with the difficulty we are under in getting papers translated, or properly explained from the Persian language, have caused your not hearing from us before. We, however, immediately procured a promise from the Nabob not to put you under further restraint as you requested. And as to the other two preliminary points, viz. your desire to have a free communication with your gentlemen in the Factory & a safe conveyance for letters to & from us, the Nabob consents, that as often as two of your Factory gentlemen are required to be present at your Bunder, they may go, on a message being first sent him by you through his officer stationed at your Bunder ; and as to letters, the same officer has his orders to forward to us by some of his own people whatever letters you may at any time have occasion to write us & to let our peons pass with our letters to you.

We have the honour to be, with perfect esteem, Surat, 5* August 1762. W° Sir & Sirs,

Your most Obedient H^i Servants.

Friday, 6lJt August 1 762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Chief & Council : — Gentlemen,

Reposing ourselves upon what you was so good as to notice to us in the letter which you honoured us with the 5!^ instant, namely, that the Nabob had agreed " that whenever two of our Council at the Factory should be summoned to the Garden, they should have permission to come there after having advised thereof by the officer who commands the blockade," we sent this morning to the Buxey to acquaint him herewith & to ask his permission to send a letter to our Factory, whereby two of the said Council were required to come to us, after they had got leave for it. The person who was employed for this message was detained till past 5 o'clock in the after noon, when he was sent back to us with an answer that the Nabob, on the contrary of what you had acquainted us with in this respect, as aforementioned, had not only absolutely refused the letting any person whatever go out of the Factory to come to us, but also the passing of any letter for those at the Factory.

In consequence whereof we find ourselves under the necessity, Gentlemen, to make a complaint thereof to you, as, in quality of mediators, it is to you that the Nabob promised this permission & it is by you that we have been acquainted therewith, & to express our appre- hensions that they may not be more exact in observing their word given in other respects, as well as in regard to this article, as likewise to request you would immediately use your autho- rity to prevent their further retracting from what has once been agreed to.

And as we most earnestly desire to see an end to these disagreeable circumstances, we cannot help redoubling our entreaties that you will be pleased to communicate to us as soon as possible how the principal affair goes on, & what you have been so good as to do in our favour.

As a good deed quickly performed without delay requires a more than ordinary acknow- ledgement, we shall esteem ourselves doubly obliged, Gentlemen, for the diligence that you may use to assist us in this affair, & it is in this agreeable expectation that we have the honour to be, with all possible esteem,

Gentlemen,

Surat, 71Jl August 1762. Your most humble & obedient Servants.

344 SURAT DIARIES.

Thursday, 12% August 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Chief and Council : — Gentlemen,

On the 1 s* instant we had the honour to receive from you, in writing, an assurance that you were willing to accept of the mediation in regard to our differences with the Nabob, & amongst other things we made known to your Deputies that we were seriously inclined to put an end to this disagreeable affair, as we have in like manner testified by the letters that we have since had the honour to write you, & when we renewed our entreaties regarding the same in the 1^ of this month, you were in your answer so good as to promise that you would shortly send us an account of the Nabobs demands. We willingly believe that it takes time to translate papers from the Persian language, but, Gentlemen, it is now thirteen days since we addressed you & we are not the least wiser in regard to the principal affair than we were the first day, and since the 8^ we have waited with the utmost impatience, altho' in vain, for the performance of the promise that you made us in your letter of that date, namely, " that you would shortly send us a list of the Nabobs demand," without which it is impossible to finish the dispute, but the time flies away apace & we do not remember any instances of the like blockade at Surat & one that has lasted so long. What is worse, we are daily more & more restrained, which is attended with a great expence without our being to blame. This is directly contrary, not only to the first article which you mentioned in your letter of the 5^ of this month, as being a settled preliminary by the Nabob, but even contrary to all laws & customs, as during a negotiation things should remain in statu quo on both sides.

And as your own honour, Gentlemen, is concerned in speedily terminating the principal affair upon equitable conditions, & that what has been promised be punctually observed on both sides, we take the liberty to renew our entreaties in the most amicable & strongest manner, that, in quallity of mediators, you would after so much delay enable us by con- currence & cooperation to bring matters to a speedy conclusion, & as friends & allies to our Republick & our brethren in regard to religion, use not only your powerful good offices that nothing be exacted from us but what is equitable, but also the authority that you have in your hands that no injustice be done us, as well with respect to the preliminary agreed to as the demands that may be made upon us.

We expect the same not only from a principle of the said friendship, alliance & fra- ternity with respect to religion, as well as from the mediation, but even by virtue of the engagements you have made with the Moorish Regency of this City, which very far from tending to the prejudice of a third person, agreeable to what Ml Spencer declared to us when he was here, are on the one hand to maintain the rights & authority of the Regents of the City, according to reason & equity, & on the other not to suffer the said Regents to wrong, or injure, any inhabitant, much less the European Nations which are established here. We have the honour to be, with perfect esteem,

Gentlemen,

Jingy Bunder, 12% August 1762. Your most humble & obedient Servants.

Surat, Thursday, 12% August 1762.

At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Hodges, EsqZ., Chief.

Cecil Bowyer. Thomas Mostyn. Robert Gambier.

Charles WhitehiU. Nathf Stackhouse. John Stephenson.

Read & approved our last Consultation of the 10*^ instant.

SUBAT Dl ARIES. 345

Read the letter from the Dutch Chief & Council, as entered ahove, which earnestly entreating us to send them the Nabobs demands as soon as possible, in order that they may be able to bring matters to a speedy conclusion. Agreed (notwithstanding our Resolution of the 10^ to wait for directions from the Presidency) that two of the Board be sent with them tomorrow with a suitable letter.

THO* IiniHiES. CECIL BOWYER. THO« MOSTYN. RT GAMMER. JN2 STEPHENSON.

Friday, 1S1^ August. — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Chief & Council : — W% Sir & Sirs,

We are to acknowledge receipt of your favour of yesterdays date & to acquaint you that you will now receive by the hands of Mess^ Stackhouse & Gambier a list of the Nabobs demands. Your resolutions on each you will please to let us know as soon as convenient. They are as few in number as we have been able to reduce them. And you will please to observe that large demand, something of which you mentioned to those Gentlemen, the Nabob had made on you for the charges of his war with Subdar Caun, is not there inserted, nor many lesser ones he was inclined to urge ; and if they are still more disagreeable than we could wish, we need not tell you that when ruptures proceed from religious provocations, they generally prove more diffi- cult to accommodate, as their object not only aims at most ample satisfaction for the past, but the strongest security against the future.

You complain of being put under more & more restraint. The only difference that we know of is that the Nabob three or four days ago issued a Proclamation forbidding any under his Government to enlist in your service, which you yourselves obliged him to do (as he urges) from the information he received, & we fear not without foundation, of your having actually raised about fifty Seepoys at Otway, notwithstanding the reciprocal agreement prior that every thing should remain in statu quo during the negotiation.

We are with perfect esteem, Surat, 13% August 1762. W° Sir & Sirs,

Your most H"! Servants.

Wednesday, 18(A August 1762. — Received the following letter from the Presidency : — Gentlemen,

With respect to the disputes subsisting between the Nabob & the Dutch, we would have you offer your good offices to both parties for accommodating matters, acquainting them at the same time that we cannot admit of the tranquility of the place being disturbed, & which you are accordingly to preserve to the utmost of your power, taking every suitable measure for that purpose, consistant with the Moguls authority & the Phirmaunds we are possessed of, to which you are to have a due regard. We approve the hint you gave the Nabob about the Dutch withdrawing their heavy Cannon & Mortars, but we never before knew of their

b 1255—87

346 SURAT DIARIES.

having any of the latter at Surat, & would therefore be glad to know what number they have there & their size, & as we do not think they have occasion for either heavy Cannon or Mortars, we wish the hint you have given may have the desired effect on the Nabob.

We are, Bombay Castle, 12lJt August 1 762. Your Loving Friends-.

Thursday, 19ll August. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : —

Gentlemen,

It is with much concern that we find ourselves obliged to make our complaints to you again upon a new infraction of the promises that have been made us. When we complained the 8!^ of this month that the Nabob refused to give permission to two of our Council at the Factory to come to us, or rather to go & come, which we thought had been agreed to, in order thereby to bring matters to a conclusion, because, being separated, we cannot come to any resolution that is valid in affairs of this nature without communication & mutual consent, which you, Gentlemen, who are in the service of a Company, the same as 'we are, cannot be ignorant of, you signified to us in your answer of the same date that you were extremely surprized, noticing to us that you yourself had understood the thing the same as we had, but that in regard to this affair the Nabob appears inflexible & had only permitted you to assure us that he would not prevent the passing of letters to & from our Factory & that permission would be given for those among us to go & return in safety*

We will not stop here to examine how with respect to so reasonable a thing the Nabob could be made inflexible in regard to you, Gentlemen, who on the one hand are engaged to support him in his rights & authority, as far as regards reason & equity, but who are obliged on the other not to suffer any injury or wrong to be done to the inhabitants & much less to an European Nation established here & who have power sufficient in your hands to overcome the inflexibility of the Moorish Regents & to make them lend an ear to what is just & reasonable, especially when it regards an Europeau Nation established here & priviledged by a number of Phirmaunds, which have been irrevocably granted it by the Kings ; but we will leave the whole impartial world to judge thereof, & content ourselves in letting you know that relying upon your said assurance, and endeavouring to put an end to the dispute, but not daring to leave the first subscriber without running the risque of a severe censure for it, we thought it proper to communicate to our Council in the factory the list of the Nabobs demands as soon as they were translated & to send them by a sworn messenger, namely, the first Clerk to our Secretary, requiring their sentiments in writing, as well as an explanation of the different accusations which three of them were charged with. But when by means of the Buxey we sent to the Durbar for permission, as well as the necessary security for the going & returning of our said messenger, the whole day from the morning until the evening passed before we could obtain it, & at last they signified to us that this permission was only agreed to for the day- time, so that we could not send our messenger till the next morning. They acquainted us- at the same time that he might go & come as often as was necessary, even to three or four times a day. You will easily judge, Gentlemen, that time is required for maturely weighing a paper, the composing of which took up near fifteen days & which contains such important articles as the demands of the Nabob are, and which cannot be answered without some time, as likewise that considering the separation of the Council, it is absolutely necessary to send many messages

StJRAT DIARIES. 347

backwards & forwards. Notwithstanding the first clerk went to Town but three days succes- sively. A that only onceaday, it was yesterday signified to him that he would not be permitted to go and come any more, & that it was high time to terminate the affair, so that we have been again disturbed contrary to all reason & equity in the midst of our business for disposing matters, in order to answer the said articles & have thus been prevented from continuing our delibera- tions.

We are not afraid to let any person whatevef be a Judge, to whom the fault is to be attributed of all these delays, being well assured that no one can tax us herewith. And as even from the beginning, before you accepted of the mediation, we plainly perceived by the demands successively made upon us, some of which afterwards were given up and others made again, that they were endeavouring to prolong matters, & it evidently appeared to us by the measures they were pursuing that it was the Nabobs intention to oblige us to come to dishonourahle terms, thro' want of provisions, we thought ourselves authorised by the laws of nature to provide in time against it as much as possihle. We have continued this precaution, & when in the night between the 16$ & 17^ instant a boat loaded with provisions came to us, the armed boats of the Nabob pursued her almost under our wall, whereby the said intention of the Nabob is plainly verified ; further more, the said armed boats since that time have come within musquet shot of our wharf & have thereby greatly violated the statu quo that you, Gentlemen, acknowledged ought to subsist, so that we expect with reason that you will redress matters properly in this respect, in order to prevent the dangerous consequences which may result therefrom even against our inclination.

It is incontestable that the Nabob has a right to keep off, or take, all boats loaded with troops, or ammunition that we might endeavour to bring to us whilst a negotiation is on foot ; but, Gentlemen, as to the simple article of provisions, permit us to think in the same manner, as did heretofore Capl Ws. Lane, who in 1 751 commanded your Troops in the Castle, when in a letter to the late Directore Ml. Pecock, of the 15* October of the same year, he writes thus — " The Sciddee, yesterday, took a boat which upon the faith of the suspension of arms was bringing us some provisions. This corresponds very badly with the proceedings of a man who desires peace." We cannot help therefore making our complaints to you also in this respect, the more so, as since that time they have visibly doubted their endeavours to prevent our getting any provisions at all & even the forage for our cattle, which last article was never before denied us for the horses & oxen of particulars in the Factory. And they did not even refuse provisions to the Swedes Supracargoes in 1761, at which time they had differences with the Nabob & their house was surrounded by his troops. And as to our predecessors, as soon as they took upon them the charge of the mediation injthe war of 1751, they procured abundance of provisions & refreshments for those of your Nation, who were then here, particularly for those who were in your factory & who suffered much for want of provisions. Altho' the circumstances of that time were much more critical than those in which we are in, we are to request of you, Gentlemen, in quality of mediators, to be so good as to render us the like service & to supply us, as well as our people at the Factory, with the necessary provisions for our proper account, in which case the Nabob will have no more to fear, that under the pretext of getting provisions we have other views or are endeavouring to bring other things. If ever an acknowledgement should find place in the world, we flatter ourselves that it ought in the present case & we have too good an opinion of your sentiments, Gentlemen, with respect to what one man owes to another & particularly in regard to the obliga- tions which Christianity & the Protestant cause enjoin, to doubt a moment that you will not acknowledge the justice of our complaints regarding the said points & the necessity that the Nabob that in order to bring matters to a conclusion the communication with our Factory ought not to be interupted, as without mutual consent we cannot come to a resolution. That

348 SVBAT DIARIES.

for deliberations of this kind, & when those who are to concur thereto are separated, the one from the other, it naturally requires a more than ordinary time, and that there is nothing more just nor more reasonable than to let provisions pass freely during the negotiation, and lastly that it is not the way to terminate matters speedily by giving us continual causes for complaint (whether by making alterations in the statu quo or otherwise), which only retard the settling of the principal affairs.

In expectation of your answer, we have the honour to be, with all sorts of esteem,

Gentlemen,

Jingee Bunder, 18^ August 1 762. Your most obedient Servants.

Sunday, 22^ August 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : — Gentlemen,

On the 19!£ instant we forwarded a letter to the Buxie dated the preceeding day, in order to be sent you. Up to this time we have received no answer & have observed no alteration with respect to the grievances we had the honour to set forth to you therein, excepting that the said Buxie sent to enquire of us the day before yesterday why for some days past we did not send any body to the Factory ? Whereupon having given him for answer that the person who always accompanied our messenger, in going & coming, had signified to him that it would be no longer permitted of, & the Buxie having expressed his surprize thereat, saying that he knew nothing of it & that he never forbad any such thing, in consequence whereof we yester- day sent again into the city. We cannot help thinking that the said letter has been detained & never delivered to you as we pursuade ourselves the points therein contained could not appear to you of so little importance, as not to think that we expected your answer with the utmost impatience. Wherefore we take the liberty, Gentlemen, hereby to acquaint you of our appre- hensions in this respect, that you may remedy it in the manner you judge proper, whether by shewing us a surer way or otherwise, & we enclose a duplicate of the said letter, in hopes that in case the original, as we fear, has not come to hand, they will not dare again to practice the like towards a Council which represents the Governor of the Castle, & which of course has a great share in the government of the city, & which furthermore has the power to make them sensible thereof.

We have the honour to be, with true esteem,

Jingee Bunder, 22 * August 1762. Gentlemen,

Your most obedient Servants.

Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council : — Wl Sir & Sirs,

On the 19^ instant we received your favour dated the 18'^, in which we expected you would have acknowledged the receipt of our letter under the 13^ enclosing a list of the Nabobs demands which was delivered you by Mess™ Stackhouse & Gambier. We shall however reply to your letter now before us.

The Nabobs Buxey sent you a message that none of your Gentlemen from the Bunder were to go any more to your Factory surprized us greatly, as it was so contrary to the Nabobs solemn promise to us. We therefore sent immediately to know the reason of it. The Nabob assured us he had given no such order & that the Buxey denied his ever having sent you such a message ; but that you might no longer make that a pretext for not bringing matters to a speedy conclusion, the Buxey by the Nabobs order did instantly repeat the same by a messenger

SURAT DIARIES. 349

sent you on purpose. With regard to those in your Factory going to your Bunder the Naboh still remains inflexible ; nor can we cause him to alter his resolution unless we were to throw off the character of mediators & take upon us that of parties against him, which we presume, Gentlemen, you do not expect of us, at least not untill you had convinced us by your answers to his demands, not yet attempted, that he was the aggressor in the points most material.

You complain of the Nabobs armed boats pursuing the boat of yours loaded with provisions. You admit at the same time his right to keep off or take all boats loaded with troops or ammunition. The Nabob esteems provisions not less contraband, nor does this differ from the terms upon which you desired us to become mediators, viz., that you should not be put under further restraint during the negotiation as mentioned in your letter of the 3l!l ultimo, the principal restraint you were before under being that of provisions, according to what we were then told & believed. But for once, Gentlemen, to follow your train of reasoning, how was the Nabobs armed boats to be satisfied the one you mention had neither troops nor ammunition, unless they not only pursued but stopt & searched for ?

None of us were here in the year 1751, and we should think that none of you, Gentlemen, were here either, or in policy you would have avoided the mention of that year, if report does not do you injustice. Not that we mean to recriminate. We have undertaken the part of mediators so far as may be consistant with our trusts, & it is our meaning & intention to act strictly & impartially as such.

Upon the whole then if, as mediators, we have not been so fortunate to prevail on the Nabob to let the Gentlemen of your Council, who are in your Factory, go at pleasure to your Bunder, it cannot be denied that we obtained a free communication by letter between you both & that any of your Council at the Bunder might & may still repair thither at pleasure & return again in safety. And if it be not consistant with the rules of your service to dispense with forms when the nature of the case evidently requires it, we assure you, Gentlemen, ours most happily differ therefrom. Moreover, to evince still further our readiness to oblige you, we have, this with the greatest difficulty, prevailed on the Nabob to allow us to supply you with one weeks provisions, within which time we hope matters will be brought to some conclusion, as we have no reason to believe he will by any means consent to our doing you this good office again ; but that we may know the quantities and sorts wanted, you will be pleased to favour us with a true and faithful account of the number of persons in your Bunder & Factory respectively, with your daily allowance to each, when it shall be sent you without loss of time. We entreat you, Gentlemen, to be as expeditious as possible in your parts to put an end to this disagreeable dispute, as the only sure means to avoid such consequences as it may not be in our power to prevent. As to the cattle you mentioned, the Nabob gives leave for them to be sent & placed under the care of your own Moody, or ours, as you may like best.

Thus far was wrote when we received your favour of this date, which requiring no other answer than that your last being very long took more time in translating, we have the honour of subscribing ourselves with perfect esteem,

W° Sir & Sirs,

Surat, 22*. August 1762. Your most Humble Servants.

Tuesday, 84* August 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : — Gentlemen,

Yesterday evening we received by a Chupdar your letter of the same date, in answer to what we had the honour to write you under the 18*^ & 22<I instant, the first of which was

b 12J5— 88

350 SUBAT DIARIES.

not sent you till the 19ih. It is true, Gentlemen, that we did not in express terms acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13^ which accompanied the list of Nabobs demands, as we thought that the paragraph where it is mentioned that the list of Nabobs demands had been sent by the first clerk to our Secretary to the Factory as soon as a translation has been made thereof, made it unnecessary, because thereby you might know that we have received that list as well as the letter which accompanied it.

Time & oppertunity do not permit of our fully answering your said letter, wherefore we will content ourselves by referring you to the tenour of our last under the 1 8^ of this month in regard to the delays that are imputed to us, & only say that since receipt of the Nabobs demands we have been constantly employed in making our answer thereto & that we hope to finish this answer in a few days, after which no time shall be lost in sending it to you. Indeed, Gentlemen, when matters of so old date are brought up, such as are some of the said demands, it is impossible to answer them immediately, & to have foundation for what we say, it is necessary to look over a great many old papers.

We hereby express our obligations for the permission that you have obtained to supply us with the necessary provisions for a week, alth?. we did expect you would have done us this good office until the end of the negotiation, or till such time as we could come to an amicable accommodation founded upon reason & equity. If these should take place we shall have occasion for very little more than what you have been so good as to promise & which we expect as soon as possible. We enclose for this purpose an exact fist of the provisions which we are in want of for 7 days, as well for ourselves as our people, whether European or Natives, of which that side marked letter A is for our Wharf & the other maked letter B for our Factory. In firm assurance you will not refuse anything of what is mentioned therein,

We have the honour to be, with all sort of esteem,

Jingee Bunder, 24lh August 1762. Gentlemen,

Your most humble Servants.

Wednesday, 25* August. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : — Gentlemen,

Thro' the hurry we were in, in order to send you immediately the list of provisions that you required, we forgot to desire that you would likewise supply us with what is necessary to feed the cattle, goats, fowls & ducks which are mentioned in the List, as we cannot kill them all at one time. If contrary to our expectations they make a difficulty to grant in grain for this purpose, the two former may in the meantime live upon hay, provided there is a sufficient quantity, but as to the poultry it is absolutely necessary to have some grain to keep them alive, even were it of the most common sort.

We take the liberty to represent to you, Gentlemen, upon this occasion, that we cannot part with our horses or our oxen at the Bunder to deliver them agreeable to the proposal you made the 22i of this month to the care of your or our Moody. We want to keep the horses in case it should be necessary to send more than one person to our Factory, & we cannot part with our oxen, because they are employed to draw water out of the wells. We flatter ourselves, Gentlemen, that these reasons will induce you to make a new trial to obtain for these cattle some provisions, were it nothing else, but which we hereby request.

We have the honour to be, with much esteem, Jingee Bunder, 25* August 1762. ' Gentlemen,

Your most humble Servants. Sailed the convoy to the Northward.

SUXAT DIARIES. 351

Thursday, 86* August.— Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council :—

W° Sir & Sirs,

•

The 24*£ at night we received your favour of that date, enclosing the List of provisions wanting at your Bunder & Factory for one week, which by the account accompanying you will please to observe is complied with in every article procurable, & where any one was not to bfl had, it has been made up in something similar, & we hope will prove satisfactory. The amount is Rupees 920-2-28, which you will please to send us by the bearer or pass a receipt as may be most convenient.

Yesterday your last favour of that date was received, agreeable to which provisions for the above live stock is now sent with them. As to the points, viz. your horses & draft oxen, when we know the Nabobs resolution, you shall be acquainted with it.

We are with perfect esteem, Surat, 26"\ August 1762. Your most humble Servants.

Surat, Friday, 27lh August 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore and Council : — Gentlemen,

Yesterday evening by a Chupdar we had the honour to receive your letter of the same date with the Boat of provisions for a week you were so good as to send us. We cannot help expressing how much we are obliged to you for the same, as also for your exactness therein, as every thing turned out agreeable to the inclosed account. We yesterday evening sent to the servant of your Moody the Rupi 920-2-28 mentioned in your letter, which you disbursed on this account herein. We hope we have acted agreeable to your intentions. We flatter ourselves at the same time that you will not only procure permission from the Nabob in regard to provisions for our horses & oxen, but that you will also take care that it be sent as soon as possible. In the meantime we are, with much esteem,

Gentlemen, Jingee Bunder, 27lh August 1762. Your most humble Servants.

Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council : — W^ Sir & Sirs,

Agreeable to what we wrote you yesterday, the Nabob was applied to concerning the pro- visions you require for the maintenance of your horses & draft oxen now in your Bunder. He last night absolutely refused any being supplied you, but being sent to again this morning he at length consented to our furnishing you one weeks provisions for two horses, two coach oxen & two well oxen, but no more, & which you will now receive amounting to Rupees 17-0-36 as p. account inclosed. The remainder of your cattle you may send out to the care of your own, or our Moody, or where else you think more proper.

We are with perfect esteem, Surat, 27* August 1762. W2, Sir & Sirs,

Your most humble Servants.

Friday, 3rJ; September 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore and Council with their answer to the Nabobs demands : —

352 SUBAT DIARIES.

Gentlemen, After formally returning you our thanks for having procured & sent us the necessary forage for one week for two of our horses & four oxen, which we received the 27^ ultimo with a letter of the same date that you honoured us with, the amount of which we paid next day, we have the honour to send you herewith the answer to the Nabobs demands with a French translation & three pieces annexed in both languages, letter'd A, B, & C. The referring to old Records has cost us much trouble, in order that we might write so exactly, as you will find we have done. And as the whole has been so clearly & so plainly set forth (that no one can withhold himself from conviction, unless he shuts his eyes on purpose) and particularly that it is not us who are the aggressors & that we have not interfered in matters of religion, but that the Nabob having broke thro' all bounds, which are prescribed by the Kings Phirmaunds, by constant custom & even all decency, both treated our Company & their servants with great indignity, & of course it is him who is the aggressor. We hope, Gentlemen, from your love of peace & justice that the said answer will furnish you with means to convince him of the injustice of the proceedings, & let him know at the same time that he has not only suffered himself to be imposed on by false reports, but has given the Company just cause of com- plaint against him, and we request, Gentlemen, that in quality of mediators you would forward the whole by your good offices, but in case the Nabob should still remain inflexible, as we with grief have found him in many respects, & should refuse to listen to any reason, alttrl ever so convincing, we then lay hold of the promise indirectly made us at the end of the second paragraph of your letter of the 22i August.

But as we plainly foresee that the provision & forage you sent us, notwithstanding all our management, will be expended before matters can be expended, we take the liberty, Gentlemen* to desire you will immediately procure us a further supply of one & other, equal at least to to the former, to give us thereby time to wait until you have made the necessary remonstrances to the Nabob & prevailed on hjm to take a just & reasonable resolution.

We have tbe honour to be, with perfect esteem, Jingee Bunder, 3d- September 1 762. Gentlemen,

Your most humble Servants.

P.S. — As probably, Gentlemen, you cannot supply us with Batavia Arrack for our Euro- peans, & as we have yet a small quantity at Ottova, we request of you to get permission for its being brought hither. We will engage our word of honour that upon this occasion no provi- sions of any sort whatever or anything else shall be brought in.

Monday, 6lh September 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : — Gentlemen,

On the 26'i? ultimo we received the provisions for a week that you were so good as to send us, & the day after a weeks forage for our horses and oxen at the Wharf. As since that time many sick useless people have left our Wharf, & having managed as well as possible what we received, this supply, with what little we had before, has lasted us to this day. But as the provi- sions & forage are very near expended, & we are of opinion that by waiting for a reasonable & equitable resolution from the Nabob upon our answer to his demands, which we had the honor to send you the 3i instant, we shall be reduced to extremities, we requested by our letter of the same date that you would in quality of mediators send us a further supply as well

SVBAT DIARIES. 3o3

for the Wharf <is the Factory on our paying for it, as we did by the first. But as we have hitherto received no answer, we cannot help renewing our entreaties & we trust the more in your pow- erful assistance on this occasion, as we have advanced nothing but what we have I solid founda- tion for, and which proves that the Nabob is the aggressor & that we are in all respeetl the suffering party. We have the honour to be, with perfect esteem,

Gentlemen,

Jingee Bunder, 0** September 1762. Your most Humble Servants.

P.S. — We request, Gentlemen, that you would also procure permission for carrying from our Wharf to our Factory a single canister of Powder Sugar.

Arrived the Convoy from the Northward.

Tuesday, 7l!t — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council : — W°r: Sir & Sirs;

On the 31 instant at night we were favoured with your letter of that date, enclosing your answer to the Nabobs demands, which being very voluminous, will require some days yet to translate into English. After which it must be put into Persian for him to understand, in both which we shall be as expeditious as possible ; but we wish, Gentlemen, that the passage in our letter of the 224 August representing the difficulty we then had to obtain you one weeks provisions had induced you to shorten, if possible, the term of twenty-two days taken for its composition, as we have now the misfortune to advise, the Nabob is not to be prevailed on either for our letting you have more provisions & forage or for the Arrack at Otway being transported to your Bunder. No, notwithstanding one of our Board has been purposely Bent to him, it being his fixed opinion that the delay of bringing matters to a conclusion is wilful and unreasonable on your parts, and how can we convince him to the contrary as we are ignorant, as yet, of the arguments and proofs your answer may possibly furnish us with for the end, and be positive on his part that you are aggressors. However, that as little time as pos- sible may be lost in bringing this unhappy affair to a speedy conclusion, we shall treat with him point by point, as we can get them translated.

Your favour of yesterdays date has been received, which requiring no other answer, we subscrihe ourselves with perfect esteem,

W°- Sir & Sirs,

Surat, 7* September 1767. Your most humble Servants,

Sunday, 12lh — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore and Council : — W<l Sir & Sirs,

On the 9'11 instant late in the evening we received your favour of that date, which being long, its translate was not finished until last night. If we understand it right, you treat us not less uncandid than unjust in concluding that we support the Nabob, only because we have not been able by persuasive arguments to induce him to let you have a second supply of provisions. Surely, Gentlemen, you forget that the part of mediator is to use friendly and not compulsive methods for bringing about a reconciliation if possible between disputing parties, and if we have made no greater progress in this, is it not evidently owing to our being unacquainted with your respective allegations, and does not our last letter of the 7* shew that we were then so far from being fully informed of both, that even your first answer to the Nabobs demands was not then translated into English, nor is it yet finished on account its extraordinary prolixity and the interruption your letter now before us unavoidably causes to the Gentleman who has it in hand. Besides, Gentlemen, the terms on which you yourselves engaged us to become mediators, as is fully noticed in the third paragraph of our address of the 22n,<? ultimo, have been strictly b 1255—89

254, SURAT DIARIES.

adhered to on our parts, save only that deviation in your favour, which was our being so fortu* nate as to prevail on the Nabob to let you have the weeks provisions we sent you.

More we might add, but as it takes us off from the main point and we have other business also in hand, we shall only add that the Nabob will not consent to your being further supplied by us with provisions, he being, if possible, more positive that you are the aggressors than you are that he is.

Be again assured, Gentlemen, that we shall lose no time in doing what we consistently can towards finishing this troublesome affair, as we are with perfect esteem,

W^ Sir & Sirs, Surat, 12^ September 1762. Your most humble Servants.

Tuesday, lAlh — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore and Council : — W°^ Sir & Sirs,

In answer to your favour of the 12t]; instant which we received yesterday about noon by a Chupdar, we have only to say that we are reduced to the greatest extremities at our Bunder, having no more than one days provisions left. We have twice applied to you, Gentlemen, to procure us some more provisions and we hereby renew our request, and beg you will acquaint us whether the Nabob intends to reduce us by famine or treats with us in a reasonable manner. It is unnecessary to represent to you, Gentlemen, how reasonable a thing the first would be, which speaks of itself ; therefore we shall only declare to you again that we most earnestly desire to see a speedy end to this affair, which at present depends on you.

In the meanwhile we are with perfect esteem,

W^ Sir & Sirs, Jingee Bunder, 14*. September 1762. Your most humble Servants.

Surat, Wednesday, 15lh. September 1762. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Hodges, Esq'L, Chief.

NathL. Stackhouse. John Stephenson.

Cecil Bowyer,

Thomas Mostyn.

Charles Whitehill.

Mr_ Robert Gambier, indisposed. Read the letter received from the Dutch last night on which the Chief acquaints the Board that Mynheer Winkin (their Deputy Secretary who brought it) told him apart that they absolutely had but one days provisions at the Bunder, and if the Nabob would not allow them more provisions that they must comply with any demands he made to save their lives. Taking them into consideration, we are of opinion that if matters are finished in this manner, the Dutch will hereafter have a pretext to disturb the quiet of the place, as their answer to the Nabobs demands will remain unrefuted ; therefore to manifest further our moderation as mediators and to render invalid their twelve articles retorted on him in their said answer, it is agreed that we make a point with the Nabob to let them have one-third part of their last Bunder Indent, as by the time that is expended the letter preparing will be finished.

THOi HODGES. THO^ MOSTYN. J. STEPHENSON.

SURAT DIARIES. 355

Wednesday 16A — "Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore k Council : — Wo, Sir & Sirs,

Last night we received your favour of yesterdays date representing that you had only one days provisions left at your Bunder and repeating your request for our enterceding with the Nabob to let you have a further supply. Great were the objections started on his side, but as we represented in the most cogent terms the propriety of supplying you at least until we had dispatched a letter we had in hand in consequence of the mediation we had undertaken and which was about half finished, he at last consented to our sending you one-third of your last Bunder Indent, provided and not else that we sollicited him no more on this disagreeable subject. You will therefore now receive the same, amounting as per account enclosed to Rupees 214-2-46, which you wiU. please to pay as before.

We remain with perfect esteem, Swat, 16* September 1762. W°. Sir & Sirs,

Your most humble Servants.

Surat, 19lJL September 1768. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Hodges, Esqr_, Chief.

Cecil Bowyer. Charles Whitehill. Thomas Mostyn. Nathaniel Stackhouse. John Stephenson.

Robert Gambier, indisposed.

Read and approved our last Consultation of the 15** instant.

Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council, conformable to the Resolu- tion in the preceding Consultation : — W0^ Sir & Sirs,

Agreeable to what we wrote you under the 7^ instant, two of our Board have waited on the Nabob and explained to him your answers to his demands. To have staid for his replication in writing & then to have had that translated from the Persian would have required more time than your unhappy situation, especially in respect of provisions, would admit. For con- ciseness, as well as expedition, sake therefore, we shall now acquiant you the purport of his said replication to each article of your answer with our opinion as mediators thereon in the hope of its proving to your satisfaction, viz.

To the l!*L — "The Nabob denies not his having given you leave to bring from Broach the guns of the ship " New Walcheren," but his permission for landing them here was only till you had an oppertunity of sending them to Batavia & not to keep them as you have done. What passed between Suffder Caun & you concerning Ship " Bloemandoll's " guns he was not acquainted with, but now he does not chuse you should keep either, as you have evidently exceeded his leave regarding the first, & as merchants can have no good intent in keeping here any heavy cannon."

It is evident from your answer, Gentlemen, that your view in keeping the guns in dispute was to supply your large ships in case by distress they had been obliged in their passage from Batavia to throw theirs over board & for the fitting out small vessels for the protection of your trade against piratical vessels. To answer these ends with safety to yourselves, as well as to remove the Nabobs suspecions, we apprehend, Gentlemen, you can have no good objection

356 SURAT DIARIES.

to remove all your heavy cannon, that is to say, all above four Pounders from your Bunder to Castle Green under the cannon of the Castle, to be thence shipt off by you at pleasure, and if you require a receipt for them there, we ourselves, or the Officer Commanding the Castle, will pass you one to that purport. And as to the four Pounders & those of a smaller caliber we agree with you they would be more handy for service or salutes to be continued at your Bunder, provided always that you render the Nabob a true and faithful account upon your Parole of Honour of the whole. This we the rather mention, as he has been informed and believes that some of your cannon are concealed under ground or in other places out of sight.

To the 21.. — "The Nabob remarks that the grant you have referred to lTl A. said to be signed by Suffder Caun relates to part of a high road that was formerly nigh the river side, the other part of which was carried away by freshes as you have described, but the high road lie complains you have stopped without legal authority is another, & which is considerably inland of the former one & where you have erected two gates with a brick wall on each side of them. These gates with those walls he requires to be taken away, that the Kings high road may be open, as heretofore."

If this be the case, Gentlemen, as from other information there is some room to apprehend, it appears to us but right that the said high road should be restored, unless you can prove your right to the contrary by some authentick voucher.

To the 3i. — "The Nabob insists on the Chowkey being replaced within your Bunder to prevent further abuses in his Custom revenue."

As it seems to be the general belief that great abuses have been committed for want of the said Chowkey, the replacing it must give great satisfaction to all interested in that revenue.

To the 4% — " The Nabob affirms that Ragoonathdass, his then Duan, with Manohur one of your Brokers, were the persons who settled the sum of Rupees 80000 to be paid him by way of present for the work executed at your Bunder by virtue of his permission, letter C, which you have produced."

It appears by said papers, llf C, that the point asked of him was " to build a stone wall along side the river in the same manner as that at our garden." And that he granted it, " provided the wall was not raised above the ground." That such a work has been executed is evident to every one who ever saw your Bunder, & if the said Ragoonathdass is to be credited* it was himself with your Broker Manohur that settled that sum to be paid the Nabob, when the work should be compleated, conformable to his, the Nabobs, Duscat as above noticed & not before. But the dispute, which ended very shortly after in your placing Suffder Caun in the Durbar to the ruin of this present Nabob, falling out just at the time your said Wharf wall was finished, the promised gratuity was never made good. To the truth of this Ragoonathdass offers to make oath.

To the 5*1*. — " The Nabob most solemnly avers, that for these three years past he has not received his Dustoor k°L annual fees from your Company, & that Manohur, one of your Brokers, no longer ago than last year returned him an insolent answer to his asking for it, saying that he had broke that custom ever since Ally Noras Cauns time.

About this we dare say there will no difficulty arise on your side, since if the Brokers have not faithfully discharged their duty to your Company, there can be no reason the Nabob should lose his right thereby.

To the 6^. — The Nabob supports this charge by the written testimony of Calliandass Pursotumdass & Tricumdass Pragdass, two Brokers of known credit & wealth, who severally

SURAT DIARIES. 857

declare that they have bought Dutch goods from your two Brokers Pandole & Manohur at advance prices in consideration of their giving them a Burtea for exporting said goods free of Customs, on which otherwise they must have paid the Government five p. cent. & on their arbitrary valuation, & if more proofs be required the Nabob adds they can be produced.

It appears from hence that the Government has been great sufferers by this unjust pro- ceeding, and that in equity reparation ought to be made, but as it will require much time and at most endless trouble to have such an account properly adjusted, the Nabob and all others interested in this revenue must depend on your honour, Gentlemen, to prevent your Brokers doing the like in future.

To the 7'k. — " The Nabob absolutely denies his having ever summoned Mynheer Sanderus to attend the Durbar to answer to the complaint of the wood merchant, but only to send his Vackeel for that purpose, and that instead of receiving a message first from the Directore about this affair, the Nabob first sent his Master of Requests, Ashrofbeg, to complain of the behaviour of Mynheer Sanderus, when the Directore acknowledged that Mynheer Sanderus had behaved very unbecomingly, but as he had talked to him, he hoped the Nabob would overlook it. He further adds that the dispute was never finished by the Government and still remains undecided."

If your Phirmaunds expressly forbid the Moor Regents meddling in any affairs which concern the servants of your Company, the Nabob should undoubtedly have complained first to the Directore, as that must be founded on a supposition he would cause justice to be done his subjects, and it is to be wished that Mynheer Sanderus had civilly given such an answer to the Nabobs man, as it would have prevented the servants of either aggravating matters, which has been the case. It is certain that when Mynheer Sanderus told the Chief that this affair had been decided in ML Prices time, he made him the answer ML Sanderus has inserted, but that being afterwards contradicted by the other party, the Chief did not interfere further, nor did he hear more of it until it appeared in the Nabobs demands. This affair therefore the Directore will be pleased to cause to be settled in an amicable and just manner.

To the 8^. — " The Nabob allows that it was the Codjee who sent the message to Mr Kelly, but as the Codjee is an officer acting under him, and the man sent by him was in his, the Nabobs, immediate pay, he deemed it no impropriety to call him his servant, more especially as he went with his previous knowledge. The Codjee however most solemnly confirms the truth of this article in every other particular, with these additional circumstances. That before the wall was run up in the Desseys compound he advised ML Kelly by his own servant Mahomet Tar Vackeel in a friendly manner either to stop the window himself or satisfy the Dessey, otherwise it would be done against his inclination, as the Desseys house had really been rendered un- inhabitable by it for near a year. To which Ml. Kelly by the same man returned the menasing answer set forth in this article to the Nabobs eldest son. We sent some Sepoys to protect the workmen in running up the said wall, when Ml Kelly directed some of his people armed with musquets & lances to throw down the scaffolding fcr that work, which was done. That Manohur and Govinram Pandole were also present, the former of whom talked very insolently to the Nabobs people,"

What passed between Ml. Kelly & ML Price concerning the window in question we know not, but so far we may venture to believe that if Ml Price had apprehended the said window would have proved such a nuisance to the Desseys house, as even by ML Kellys defence it appears to have been, he knew the custom of this place better than to have given his consent to it. With regard to what passed between ML Kelly & the Chief on or about

b 1255—90

358 SURAT DIARIES.

the 23$ July on this subject, it may not be amiss to be a little more circumstantial than ML Kelly has related it. MessL8 Bowyer, Mostyn & Nilsong were present, & the matter of fact is as follows. It was in the forenoon when ML Kelly came to the Chief loudly complaining of the wall that was running up in the Desseys compound against a window he had knocked out to give air as well by the permission of Jaffir Yat Caun as the owner of their Factory, ML. Price, assuring the Chief it was no nuisance to the Desseys house & desiring he would interfere to get the wall impeded. The Chief answered that he had received repeated complaints from the Desseys Vackeel concerning that window, as it had prevented his Master living in his house for some time, but being himself unaquainted with the situation of the window, he proposed Cap*- Nilsong with Mulna Abrahams attending ML. Kelly to their Factory, & if it should be found as he asserted, he promised to intercede with the Nabob to let the window remain, but if otherwise, he thought it might still be remedied by affixing without a wooden blind made sloping so as to draw the air & admit some light to ML. Kelleys apartment & at the same time prevent the Desseys compound being overlooked. CapL. Nilsong soon after returned & reported the window to be about four feet square & the lower frame of it about six feet & a half from the floor, but that it entirely overlooked the Desseys house. Jaffir Yat Caun being then sent to by the Chief, declared that his permission was only for a sky light of one guz square, nevertheless, to oblige ML. Kelly, the Chief proposed to the Nabob stopping the window by the wooden frame above described, but the Nabob declining to interfere, as the point had been legally settled by the Codjee & Mufftis, & the Desseys Vackeel not consenting to it, the Chief the same evening told ML Kellys man that there was no remedy & that the wall must be built. Now, if after this message Mynheer Kelly continued to interrupt the workmen, as the Codjee & others testify he did, what more favourable appellation can be given to it than a manifest insult on the Nabobs authority ?

To the 9*2*. — The Nabob having received such recent insults on his Government in the cases of Mess'i Kelly & Sanderus & getting no satisfactory answer before from the Director himself with regard to the high road, judged it high time to vindicate his authority when his religion became thus openly to be attacked, for whatever glosses may be put on this affair, he insists that your forcing the criminal woman from the custody of his peon & detaining her in the manner even yourselves have acknowledged, evidently make you accomplices in her guilt.

As to the irregularity noticed in acquainting you of the Nabobs demands, he says he cannot account for answers his people may or may not have given, but as soon as you desired them in form, he delivered them to us, for had his design against you been premeditated, they would have been ready before. The Nabob denies having authorized any one to compromise this affair for money ; nor could such a composition have been effected with safety to himself as the Mahometan Law would still have remained unsatisfied. That the woman cried out when near your Factory, Mynheer Blaankamer called out from above to let her go, which the Nabobs peon not minding, he sent a Parsee servant with one of their peons, running himself down to the Factory Gate, when the Dutch peon seizing the Nabobs peon, the Parsee carried the woman into your Factory. To the truth of which the Nabobs peon offers to make oath & to prove that her mother died, not at Surat but at Domus, & that her body was burnt there & not at Poolparah. The Nabob produced the written information of Golol Banian taken on the 241* July, in consequence of which he sent to apprehend the daughter now in your Factory.

We must suppose that Mynheer Blaankamer was not apprized of the nature of this offence, or he would not have acted as he did, & it is to be wished that the woman had in the

8URAT DIARIES. 369

beginning been sent to the Nabob with the peon under whose custody she was, instead of being detained as you acknowledge, as it would have given the most unanswerable proof of your disapproval of the transaction. The thought of this poor womans being delivered up now is not less disagreeable to us than it must be to you, Gentlemen, but what else can be done in a Maho- metan Government to appease their offended, though false, religion? Death must unavoidably be her fate, were we not so fortunate as to have interceded with the Nabob that her punishment should be more favourable, & as to Mynheer Blaakamer, we believe the Nabob will accept a suitable apology from him, expressing his being unaquainted with the nature of her crime. Be assured, Gentlemen, that whatever you may affect to say of the Mahometan Law or Nabobs authority not being violated by this act, we have too good foundation to believe that had not our influence happily preserved you, there would have been few, if any, left to relate the story ; & if to this we add the Nabobs repeated wish during this negotiation that we would withdraw ourselves interfering in your behalf, we assert no more than is strictly true.

To the 10^. — The Nabob concluding that he has materially refuted your answer to his several demands & proved most amply & clearly that he had no premeditated design to molest you until you became the aggressors in such sensible points as his religion and Government concludes his right to the batta demanded to be so just as will not admit a demur. He there- fore insists it agreeable to the tenour of this article.

From this we shall only say he will not recede, it being, as he asserts, agreeable to the custom of the country.

You acknowledge, Gentlemen, to have offered him the sum mentioned in this article on an apprehension those three Gentlemen might have proved blameable. It is as true he refused it ; but is it less so that those Gentlemen have not been so fortunate thoroughly to clear themselves. The conclusion we leave you to draw ; tb.6 we must at the same time observe that, in point of right, the Nabob cannot expect anything.

As to the twelve articles you have framed in retort to the Nabobs demands they are grounded, he observes, on a supposition that your answer refuted his said demands, but as he is fully convinced it has by no means answered that end, they of course fall to nothing, to which he thinks it necessary only further to add that your Broker Munohur was never refused going to the Durbar. He required indeed a security from the Nabob, which was refused.

It appears by the tenour of those articles, that the Nabobs people may have been guilty of some excesses towards some persons living under your protection ; but is it to be wondered that the cause of such a rupture should produce that effect.

The other four articles require no other reply on the part of the Nabob than that the boat mentioned in the third will be given up with her aparell. And as you require in the 4!{? that the Nabob should pass you a writing renouncing all old claims which he has not been able to prove, he requires that you pass him another in return renouncing on your parts all pretensions to be troublesome to him at any time hereafter on account the twelve articles aforementioned or other pretext antecedent the day proposed acquittances are interchanged.

Having thus acquitted ourselves of the part you did us the honour to engage us in and on the terms we accepted it, we cannot avoid expressing our concern at its not terminating more in your favour, but as you will know, Gentlemen, the trouble we must have had herein, so we flatter ourselves you will be candid enough to believe our impartiality has not been IdMy and as they are the most favourable terms the Nabob can be brought to, we wish they may prove

360 SURAT DIARIES.

acceptable, otherwise, as mediators, we beg to be excused interfering further, and hope not to be called upon by either in any other capacity. The reason must be obvious.

We are, with perfect Esteem, Surat, 19% Sepi 1762. W2, Sir & Sirs,

Your most humble servants.

Sailed the " Ganges," Cap^Cudbert Thornhill and "Antelope" Gallivatfor Bombay. Sailed in " Janny " Ketch, CapL Burnet, for Bengal.

Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council : — W^ Sir & Sirs,

It escaped us in our address of yesterdays date to mention that in case you accepted the terms of accommodation with the Nabob therein proposed & chose for the better preventing further disputes or misunderstandings about any point that we, as mediators, should assist therein, we will with pleasure appoint two of our Board to be present at the place that may be appointed for the Congress.

We remain with perfect Esteem, Surat, 20% September 1762. W°; Sir & Sirs,

Your most humble servants.

Thursday, 23r3 September 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : — Gentlemen,

Being obliged by the situation in which we find ourselves, particularly with regard to the want of provisions, to accommodate matters with the Nabob upon the conditions which you are acquainted with & which were mentioned in your letter of the 19* instant, excepting that our cannon of 611? & upwards, as likewise the mortar, are not to be put upon the Glacis of the Castle but kept in the Companys Latty situated under your cannon, & that the property of the two gates of our Wharf & the remains of the road, that formerly was a publick one, be demonstrated upon the spot & proved by authentick papers, we have the honour to inform you of the same, & to request that in consequence of your last letter of the 20* of this month, you would let two of your Council be present tomorrow morning, being the 24* September, for the setling of this agreement, for which purpose we have by virtue of your permission fixed upon the gardens of your Company, & that you would in quality of mediators advise the Nabob that he may also send some persons in his behalf to sign the act of accommodation with our Committee. And for security of the execution thereof on both sides we request, Gentlemen, that you would take upon you the charge of guarantee to this treaty, which we hope you will as readily accept as you did that of mediators.

For the rest, we here add the list of all the large cannon that we have, namely, all above four pounders. They consist of 10 pL. of 12 lbi^, 8 p8^ of 80 lbL, and 8 ps_ of 60 lbL, making in all twenty-six pieces of cannon with one mortar of seven inches diameter ; declaring at the

SURAT DIARIES. 3G1

same time & giving our word of honour that these twenty-six pieces are the whole of what we have, or the better to explain ourselves to the entire satisfaction of the Nalx>b, what we have here, or elsewhere, above or under ground, & that the mortar is the only one that we have.

We have the honour to be, with perfect esteem, Gentlemen, Sural, 23r* SepfL 1762. Your most Humble Servants.

Friday, 24*. Sepfc. 1762. — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore& Council: — W^ Sir & Sirs,

Last night we received your favour of yesterdays date, agreeable to which we have appointed Mess™ Bowyer & Stackhouse to assist on our parts in seeing the act of accommodation executed agreeable to what we had the honour to write you under the 19^ instant, save only that the Nabob consents to your heavy cannon, i.e. all above four pounders, being removed by yourselves to your Latty nigh the Castle with the mortar, there to remain dismounted, under a Chowkey of his people, until transported on board your ships for Batavia in manner proposed under the first article of our letter above mentioned. On these conditions we accept also the honour you now do us in desiring us to be guarantees of this treaty.

We are with perfect esteem, Swat, 24* SepVL 1762. W*. Sir & Sirs,

Your most Obedient Servants.

Sunday, 26lA SepPL 1762. — Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council: — W2, Sir & Sirs, Last night we received a letter from you of the same date, which we shall hereafter reply to, the occasion of this being on a subject which nearly concerns ourselves in particular.

You must know, Gentlemen, that when your deputies Messri. Ruperti & Van Jegar were in conference yesterday morning with the Chief & Messrl Bowyer & Stackhouse, the former dropt an expression which seemed to convey a reflexion on our conduct as mediators, upon which the Chief immediately took him up & insisted on an explanation, declaring that if that was the light you all looked on the trouble we had taken in this affair, you had better settle matters yourselves with the Nabob. ML. Ruperti apologized for the expression, & was at length brought to declare in the name of your whole Board that you were well convinced of the great trouble we had taken & believed we had done the best we could with the Nabob in your behalf ; but as this did not perfectly heal the wound, he was given to understand we expected a confirmation of it under your own hands with suitable acknowledgements, to which he assented, but observing in your letter above mentioned you only mention the trouble we have had without anything more, we cannot avoid desiring a full eclaireissement of this affair before we proceed further.

We are with perfect esteem, Surat, 26<% SepfL 1762. W*. Sir & Sirs,

Your most Humble Servants. b 1255—91

362 SURAT DIARIES.

Sunday, 26*. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council : —

W* Sir & Sirs,

When we in our letter of yesterday mentioned the trouble you had taken about the mediation till this time, it was without prejudice to the acknowledgement we intend making you for the same when the whole is finished, agreeable to what M"L Hodges himself told our deputies, & because we do not look on the mediation as over, there still remaining one article to be adjusted, about which we want your assistance as well as in regard to the others. There- fore, Gentlemen, let not the bad speech of a man who talks English with great difficulty, prevent you from further using your good offices & accept the apology he immediately made for it. We expect the same from your indulgence, & that you will assist us in settling the point that still remains in dispute, & be assured that afterwards we will not fail to comply with what you ask from us & without which we should have done it.

We are with perfect esteem, Surat, 26* Sept!L. 1762. W<L Sir & Sirs,

Your most Humble Servants.

Thursday, SO* SeptL. 1762. — Received the following letter from the Dutch Directore & Council :—

Gentlemen,

The differences between the Nabob and the Noble Dutch Company being thro' your mediation and guarantee so far settled that there remains nothing but the execution, & as that cannot take place till after the Nabobs Troops are withdrawn from the Companys Factory & Wharf & in general from all the places, which upon this occasion have been surrounded or blocked up by the Moors, that we may be thereby set at liberty, and the Nabob making difficul- ties in regard thereto, we find ourselves again obliged, Gentlemen, to ask your intercession that the Troops may be withdrawn as above, the sooner the better, that thereby we may be able to execute what we have promised. We shall, agreeable to what was agreed to, only take three days, reckoning from the time that the Nabob withdraws his forces and his cannon from all the places which they took possession of. If the Nabob had ordered his Troops to withdraw after yesterdays conference, as we expected with reason he would have done, we might in the afternoon have hired coolies and got the necessary people for transporting the heavy cannon, & of course the exchange of papers might have passed on Saturday evening ; but as the Nabobs distrust with respect to an affair, of which you are the guarantees, made us lose that day, & as the greatest part of this forenoon is elapsed & almost half the day will be gone before the withdrawing of the troops can be effected from all the places, this exchange of papers cannot take place till Sunday the 3i of October ; & as you have for this purpose fixed on the Companys Wharf, we shall that day expect to see your Deputies as likewise those in behalf of the Nabob at five o'clock in the afternoon in order to put the finishing stroke to this work & thus terminate this disagreeable affair ; and as during the course of the negotiation you have had a great deal of trouble, Gentlemen, & have used your good offices to accommodate matters, we cannot help returning you our thanks for the same altho' we are sorry that you did not succeed better.

SURAT DIARIES. 303

For the rest we have received your letter of the 28* of this month & in expectation of your answer,

We have the honour to be, with perfect esteem, Surat, 30* September 1762. Gentlemen,

Your most Humble Servants.

Wrote the following letter to the Dutch Directore & Council: — W°r Sir & Sirs,

This serves to acknowledge receipt of your favour of this date, agreeable to which the Nabob about noon withdrew his forces from your Bunder, Factory, &s? places ; and we have only further to add that provided every thing on your parts cannot be finished by Saturday evening, we desire the proposed meeting at your Bunder for the exchange of papers may be deferred until Monday the 4*. at ten in the forenoon, Sunday being in every respect an improper day.

We are with perfect esteem, Surat, 30*. September 1762. W» Sir & Sirs,

Your most Humble Servants.

Translation of the Dutch Directore & Council their acquittance of the Nabob : —

The differences that happened in the month of July last between the Nabob & the Noble Dutch Company having been at last terminated thro' the mediation & guaranty of the English Chief & Council upon the conditions set forth in their letter of the 19!^ September, excepting the first & second Articles, which have been since settled as appears by the letter of the 21s* & 28* last month, we the underwritten declare by this present that for this reason we renounce the Articles & demands that we formed against the Nabob in our answer, & since the Nabob declares he has reputed the said Articles, we will not in future frame any demands on this account nor for any former ones.

Done at Surat in the Companys Garden at Jingee Bunder the 4* October 1762.

JOHN DRABBE & COUNCIL. (On one side was fixed the Companys seal in red wax).

Signed, Sealed & Delivered in presence of us,

CECIL BOWYER. NATHANIEL STACKHOUSE.

364 SURAT DIARIES.

Report of Dutch Ordnance passed thro' the Decca Gate into the Dutch Latty : —

Nature, 18 Pi!, 16 F», 12 Pi!, 9 Pi!, 8 Pi!, 6 Pi!, Total Total 8 1 10 3 2 2 26

Two of the above 18 pi! were brass & all the rest iron: one 8 inch Mortar also passed through the Gate.

Surat, 6lh October 1762. LOR?. NILSON,

Cap!, 14 of Arty. Wrote the following letter to Bombay : — Hon"6 Sir & Sirs, We addressed your Honour &c* fully under the 30Lh ultimo p. ship " Royal Admiral," on which & the " Drake " were laden two hundred bales cotton, & as the Grab has taken in only bales 120 more, there will still remain two hundred & eight for the " Wenchelseas " cargoe.

Enclosed are copies of the translates of acquittance the Dutch & Nabob passed to each other on the accommodation of their late differences, also copy of the Commanding Officer of our Artillery his Report of the weight of their Cannons & Mortars transported from their Bunder to their Latty. By which you will observe they differ widely from the declaration under the 23<L ultimo, for instead of ten 12 pi!, eight 8 pi!, and eight 6 pi!, with a seven inch mortar, they turn out eight 18 pi!, one 16 pi-, ten 12 pI5, three 9 pi!, two 8 pi!, & two 6 pi!, with an eight inch mortar. Two of the 18 pi! are brass, rest all iron.

Yesterday came to hand your commands of the 21 instant, & last night & this morning two letters under the 4£ from the Hon^Le the President to the Chief advising of the French ships that had been seen on the Mallabar Coast, agreeable to which the Commanders of the " Boscawen " & Bombay Grab are ordered to proceed directly to your Port & the remainder of the " Winchelseas " cotton with Cap! Howes own will be sent down in boats under convoy of some of our small craft, as directed, when it comes in from the N°- ard.

As the gold consigned us from Judda on account the " Boscawens " freight bears a much lower price here than it is invoiced at, we request to be favoured with your directions regarding the same. We are, with respect,

Hon^e Sir & Sirs, Surat, 8^ OctoVL 1762. Your most obedient h*ie Servants.

Sunday, 2$- January 1763.

The Chief received the following letter from Moni. Briancourt, the French Chief : — Sir,

How unhappy it is for me that the first time I have the honour to address you it should be on a subject of complaint. I cannot imagine that you have given orders to your people at Domus to insult me in any respect. You have too much politeness for that, Sir. The day before yesterday my Pinnace was called to by one of your one Mast Gallivats ; my Tindal was insulted by your people, who would have seized the Pinnace had it not been for some Portuguese, whom she was carrying on board the " Frigata." The Captain or Master of the Gallivat not being able to make himself master of the Pinnace, vented his indignation on the

SURAT DIARIES. 305

Pendant she had at the Mast Head, which hy force he caused to be polled down, a thing unheard of to this day in the river of Surat. The people of my Boat were threatened in your name.

The hearer of this, Sir, is my Tindal. If he has committed any crime in having a Pendant on the Pinnace, which he was conducting, I give him up to you; punish him ; hut if, as is t lie custom, my Pinnace, as well as those of other nations might carry a Pendant, I hope you will restrain the insolence of your Gallivats people & ohlige them to make me proper satisfaction. Not at all in this manner did I treat them when during the winter or rains. I allowed them full liherty in my garden, indeed too much, for many of them abused it. At that time I shut my eyes to avoid troubling you with impertinent complaints, but now, on this last abuse, I can no longer keep silence. You are just, Sir. The misery to which I am reduced does not at all take away from my rank or station. Your people have offended me. Persuaded of your justice & convinced of the good correspondence which the neutrality at Surat should keep up between your Royal Nation & ours, I dare flatter myself that you will do justice to my complaint.

Permit me, Sir, to use this opportunity, even unfortunate as it is for me, to wish you a happy New Year, perfect health & the blessing of the Lord on all your undertakings. My wishes are the more sincere as they flow from a heart affected with the most respectful senti- ments of you, & with such I have the honour to be, very profoundly,

Sir, Surat, 2% JanrJ>. 17 68. Your most h!*? & most obed* Servant,

ANQUETIL DE BKIANCOURT.

Thursday, 14& April 1763.

This forenoon the' Chief, accompanied by the Gentlemen of Council, Pharos Caun the late Nabobs Naib or Second, Jaflier Yah Caun, Collector General, the principal officers of the Govern- ment, & all the English Gentlemen in the place proceede'd in the following order to the Durbar : —

An advanced Guard of Grenadier Seepoys.

A Detachment of the Kings & Companys Troops consisting of 100 Europeans under the command of CapjL Norman.

Lamont of his Majestys 89^ Regiment.

A Rear Guard of Grenadier Seepoys.

Pharus Caun in a Pallanqueen with about 250 Seepoys ; Jaffir Yah Caun also in a Pallan- queen with about 100 Seepoys.

Two State horses with velvet coverings embroidered with the Hon^? Companys Arms in their proper colours.

Two led horses with the Chiefs own furniture. Three Companies of Seepoys. The Chief in a Pallanqueen with some Grenadier Seepoys on each side. A Company of Bombay Seepoys.

The Gentlemen of Council & some others in coaches two & two.

On the Chiefs arrival at the Durbar he was received by Meer Nooradeen the Nabobs brother & Meer Amroodeen his cousin & Buxey (or Captain General), & by them introduced to b 1255-92

366 SURAT DIARIES.

Meer Cutbodeen, who, meeting him at the door of the inner Court, conducted him to the Namud Conna (or Dining Room), where after the usual compliments had passed, they proceeded across a Court Yard where CapA. Lamonts Detachment was drawn up, to the Duan Conna (or great audience room) where Meer Cutbodeen being invested by the Chief as Governour of the Moguls Castle assisted by Pharus Caun, with the Culgee (or feather of the bird of Paradise) set in a Golden Locket, with a sprig set with Diamonds Rubies & Emeralds in the shape of a feather, with a large emerald pendant & Surpayich (or an ornament in the shape of a com- mon sized Rose with a smaller one on each side, set with diamonds, emeralds & rubies with a large emerald in the shape of a Pear pendant) the ensigns of office, the first fixed towards the back & the other in the front of his turband, was led by the Chief to the seat of state called Nabobs Tackea, having a large pillow as a support behind & two smaller on each side, immediately after which the Codjee* repeated some Prayers & then the Arrasbeggy, or Master of Requests, called out, Long live the Nabob Meer Hoffis Deen Amut Caun Bahadur ; upon which the Chief as Governour of the Moguls Castle, ordered the Nobut (or great Drum) to be beat & by a signal caused nine Guns to be fired from the Castle, the number heretofore given on such occasions, & which, as Chief for the British Nation, he ordered to be taken up with twenty-one Guns from the Saluting Battery near our garden & then all the guns round the town were fired. The Chief & Pharus Caun with the Council & the rest of the English Gentlemen & the officers of Government then seated themselves on carpets, the Chief on the Nabobs right hand, Pharus Caun next to him, & then the Council & other Gentlemen, the Nabobs brother & Buxey &55 Officers being all seated on his left hand. After they had sat some time just for him to receive the compliments of his officers & the principal merchants, they returned to the Namud Conna (the Detachment commanded by Cap J: Lamont beating a March & saluting each time), which room in compliment to us was furnished with chairs agree- able to the English taste, where the Nabob being seated in a large chair of state & the Chief & Council with the other Gentlemen that accompanied him in the same order as before, the Arrasbeggy came & repeated several complimentary verses in honour of the Nabob, after which Pharus Caun, Jaffir Yab Caun, & some other of the principal officers of the Government were presented with Sirpaws (viz. a Coat, Turband, & Cuniberband), & each made his Tuslem (or homage) three times to the ground, whilst the Arrasbeggy & Chopdars cried out, Negaw Roash-shun Nabob Nomshar Salamut, (or May it please the Nabob of great renown & protected by the Most High to favour him with the light of his eyes). The Nabob then presented the Chief with two Arab horses & Pharus Caun, Jaffir Yab Caun, & Vully Ullah each with one, & made sundry other genteel presents to the several Gentlemen civil & military, as is usually practised on such occasions. The Chief was then accompanied to the outer gate of the Durbar by the same persons that received him there, & the whole returned in the same order to the garden, except that the Detachment under the command of Cap L Lamont marched off to the Castle on account of the excessive heat of the weather.

Surat, Tuesday, 6^ September 1763.

Received the following letter from Captains Scott, Boye, & Elphinstone : —

W<L Sir & Sirs,

Agreable to your orders to us the 24 instant, we with a great deal of difficulty got over the Bar with the fleet, the 4*, but it blowing so excessive hard on the latter part of the ebb, obliged

* Codjee, for Cazee, Arab, kadi, a judge. "A Cogee * * * who is a Persian skilled in their law." Ovington,

206.

SURAT DIARIES. 867

the Fishing boats, not being able to ride, to run in over the Bar ; & one of the Luggage boats in which was a field Piece, Mortar and Artillery stores springing a leak, was obliged to run on shore near Domus. The weather has continued to blow and rain very bard ever since, that not one of our fishing boats would come out. Notwithstanding the number of fresh men we have been supplied with, the people still continue to fall sick, occasioned by the constant rain and tbeir being so long in the open boats without any shelter from the weather, as it now rains and blows very hard, and in all probability will continue so till the springs are over. Think it impracti- cable to proceed on the expedition till the season is settled.

We shall wait your further orders, and are with respect,

W*. Sir & Sirs, Your most obedi humble Servants,

JAMES SCOTT. " Antelope " in Surat Road, 6* SepfL 17 G3. QB.A.% W^ BOYE.

CHAS ELPHINSTONE.

Surat, Wednesday, 7% September 1768.

Wrote the following letter to Captain James Scott at the Bar : — Sir,

We are now to acknowledge receipt of a letter of yesterdays date signed by yourself, Captains Boye & Elphinstone, which came to hand in the evening, by which we are greatly sorry to observe the apprehensions you are under that the continuance of the wet weather would render it impracticable for you to proceed on the expedition until the season is settled. But as there is a great appearance of the weather clearing up, and there are still remaining five days of these springs, we flatter ourselves you will yet be able to proceed on this service, as it is so strongly recommended from the Presidency, and the Honorable Company have been put to so much charge, which otherwise will be to no purpose, as during the whole of the fair season there will scarcely offer so fine a prospect of destroying so many more of their vessels as now. As to the Boats you mention, another large one was sent down the night before last by return of Lieu! Bembow, in the room of that which ran ashore near Domus, & other Fishing Boats were yesterday dispatched away to supply the place of two disabled ones, for if the weather clears sufficiently for you to proceed, the Fishing Boats will soon run over the Bar after you, and as to furnishing you with fresh men in the room of the sick, if that has not been constant- ly kept up, it must be Captain Boyes fault for not advising their number and quality, as the Chief wrote you under the 4^ instant that boats were kept ready at the Castle for that purpose. By all this you will see how "much we have at heart the carrying into execution the orders of our superiors for most effectually destroying the Coolies. But if the difficulties to your pro- ceeding are really insuperable, of which you are the best judges, we must acquiesce to your returning. We are,

Sir,

Surat, 7%. Sept 1763. Your Loving Friends.

368 SURA T DIARIES.

Sural, Friday, 91^ September 1763.

Received the following letter from Captains Scott & Elphinstone : — W° Sir & Sirs,

Yours of this date came to hand at 9 p.M.'regarding our proceeding to Mowa & Naugnagar, but as it appeared tq us a little ambiguous whether we should abide by the advice of the Pilots now or on our arrival there, are willing to think you intend the latter, and should we not be able to get there in the time you think probable as the immediate knowledge of those Bars may be of future service, shall weigh immediately and proceed, and hope it will meet your approbation.

We are with Respect, "Antelope" Septl 8, 1763, £ past 9 p.m. W± Sir & Sirs,

Your most Obedient Servants, JAMES SCOTT. CHARLES ELPHINSTONE.

Surat, Tuesday, 13lb September 1763.

Report proceedings of the Honourable Companys Cruizers on an Expedition to Naugnagur & Mowa on the Cooley Coast, September 1763 : —

Friday 2C1. — At 8 a.m. received orders to proceed to Naugnagur & Mowa.

Saturday 3E§. — At noon got on board the "Antelope" at Domus, where employed completing the Fleet with water. Hard squalls from S. W . with constant rain the major part of these twenty -four hours.

Sunday 4!!1.— Heavy squalls with rain till the noon. When the weather cleared up made the signal for sailing. At 2 p.m. weighed w^ the fleet and worked over the Bars and at four anchored in 7 fathom, but blowing very fresh on the latter part of the ebb, all the Malasseries & one of the Luggage boats in which was a field Piece on shore, & their stores not being able to ride, run into Domus.

Monday 5*l!. — The first & middle parts more moderate with "same rain, the latter fresh gales with a very hard swell. At day light seeing the " Ruparell " Provision boat on the edge of the Bar & eleven of the Malasseries wljMn, it sent the " Fly " to harry them out. At 8 a.m. received intelligence that the Luggage Boat attempting to come out had run on shore near Domus, and sprung a leak, immediately upon this dispatched Lieul Bembow to town for another boat to tranship what was in her with the Seapoys.

Tuesday 611?. — Fresh gales with rain & heavy weather & a large swell from the westward. At 1 p.m. blowing very hard & the Luggage Boats driving weighed with the fleet and run into Domus as the weather seemed to be set in for blowing, where found LieujL Bembow had return- ed from town, at 8 a.m. & had transhipped the stores & people from the above boat into one he had brought with him for that purpose. At 6 p. m. dispatched Lieui. Gage to Toddy Bank to bring the Malasseries over, where on his arrival found they were gone to Town.

Wednesday 7^?. — More moderate and cloudy weather with flying showers at day light. Hove up the best bower anchor, & found the stock broke. Immediately employed a Carpenter making another. At 4 p. m. received a letter from the Chief and Council, in answer to one wrote them that they acquiesced in disembarking the troops until the weather was settled but recommended

SURAT DIARIES. 369

strongly to us to proceed if we thought it practicable & the weather appeared to he hreaking up, on which sent for Monackjee and the Cooley Pilots to advise within regard to our get ting into the rivers of Naugnagur and Mowa these springs, who declared unless we arrived there so as to get in on the change day, they would not undertake to carry any of the vessels in, and as the moon changes this evening, it will he impossible to arrive in time. Immediately wrote the Chief & Council the substance of this and waited their further orders.

Thursday 8*!\ — Variable and cloudy wUl squalls of winds and rain in the forenoon, the latter part more settled. At 8 a.m. came down ten Malasaries from Surat for the Fleet. At 3 p.m. finished stocking our best bower anchor. At 4 p.m. made the signal, weighed with the Fleet, and dropt to the outer Hole, where anchored. At 9 p. m. received a letter from the Chief and Council, wherein they positively order, wind & weather permitting, to proceed to Mowa unless the Pilots should again refuse to carry us into that river, where the Chief and Council are informed that on the 4^ day of the springs is not less than two fathom water.

Friday 9th. — The first and middle parts moderate and cloudy weather, the latter fresh gales and large swell from the S. W. At | past 4 a.m. made the signal, weighed with the fleet and worked over the Bar in company the " Badger Hawke," " Otter," " Fly " & " Li velys" Prize Gallivats, two Pattemars, nine Malassaries, six Luggage and one Provision Boat. At £ past 7 anchored in 5 fathom. At £ past 11 weighed with the Fleet and stood to the Northward. At sunset saw the land to the Northward of Sultanpore bearing N. W. about six leagues. At 9 p.m. anchored in 9 fathom sandy ground.

Saturday 10*. — The first & middle parts moderate, the latter strong gales & squally w** a large swell from the S. W. At 5 a.m. the flood being done, made the signal and weighed. At sunrise Tullajee Hill over Sultanpore W. by N. ^ N., Gopnot Point being the extreme to the Southward W. S. W. £ S. off shore about 4 leagues, all the Fleet in sight. At 9 a.m. was a head of a land called Cony on within | mile then in ten fathom water. This land is dry at low water and lies from N. E. to S. W. in length about 5 or 6 miles. It bears from Gopnot Pagoda B. S. E. about 3h leagues, Tullajee Hill then bearing from us N. W. On this land about four years ago a ship belonging to the Bownagur Rajah was lost. ' At noon the ebb being done made the signal and anchored in 10 fathom in the soft mud, Gopnot bore N. E. South point of Nangangur River W. 72 E. off shore 5 miles. At p.m. weighed with the Fleet and worked to the Southward, but many of the Malasseries having drove with the flood almost out of sight, was obliged to anchor at 9 to let them rejoin the Fleet. Also despatched the " Fly " to bring up the stern most boat.

Sunday 11^. — The first part fresh gales and hazy weather with a continuance of the S. W. swell, the latter part moderate and fair. At sunrise many of the Fleet a considerable way astern occasioned by a heavy swell and strong tide of flood. Naugnagur Creek bearing W. by A. N^erly the extreames of the land from W. \ S. to N. E. ^ N. off shore 5 leagues. At 6 a.m. weighed with the Fleet and stood to Naugnagur, off which place anchored in 7^ fathom, the entrance of the Creek bearing N. B. E. \ E., a Faquirs house on the S% side of the rivers entrance of N. by W., the extreames of the land from S. W. by W. to E. N. E. off the entrance of the Creek about two miles. Finding it impracticable to land at this place from the numbers of Rocks & Breakers and observing a Bay about 3 miles to the Seward, sent in the "Fly" to sound and examine it, where finding it practicable to land the Troops, weighed with the fleet and stood in, where anchored in two fathom at noon. Dispatched Lieu J Bembow with all the Gallivats boats to assist in landing the Troops and burning the Boats. At 1 p.m. the Troops 1 icing all landed marched up to Naugnagur Creek about 4£ miles inland, where finding seventeen boats with their stores all fitted for sea, burnt them with their Custom House. At 5 p.m. the Troops

b 1255—93

370 SURAT DIARIES.

returned and not being able to come off from the great surf took possession of the Hills near the shore. Having received intelligence from a boat belonging to Sciddee Hillol that the village about two miles S°ard of us was Cottapoor of the Bunder of Mowa advised Captain Boyeof this.

Monday 12*. — At day light the Troops marched from the hills towards Mowa, at same time the fleet dropping abreast of it, where anchored in 1| fathom sand, sent all the Malassaries close inshore. At 7 set fire to the Town, and one boat which was on float, likewise destroyed 5 others that were skuttled with their tanks, stores &ci. At 10 a. m. embarked the Troops, during which time was obliged to keep a constant fire from the Vessells & Pattemars at the Coolys, who came down on the beach in great numbers. B. this is a very small Creek guarded by a long flat sand, the channel into which is along the southern shore of the Bay and on the height of the springs cannot be more than 7 feet water, as when we were there on the first hours ebb the bar was then dry though between 4 and 5 feet water on the Creek, which is not above fifteen or sixteen feet broad, the entrance of Nangnagur Creek is quite dry at low water with many rocks at the entrance but is somewhat broader than the other upon within the bar, though it appears impossible for any vessel to go in except being warpt or having a leading wind. At £ past 10 weighed with the fleet and stood for Surat, at 3 p.m. was abreast of Sultanpore, at sunset Tullajee Hill W. by S. Peeram N. extreames to the Si and W. by S. off shore 4 or 5 leagues in 13 fathom. At 9 p.m. anchored with the fleet in 10 fathom sand.

Tuesday, 13*. — Moderate and fair weather. At 8 a. m. weighed with the fleet and stood to the Southward with a light breeze from the South-west. At noon was abreast Codjaree. At 3 p.m. the flood being made was obliged to anchor with the fleet off Swallow Point in 8 fathom.

JAMES SCOTT.

Mondmj, X9& — The Chief accompanied by the Gentlemen of Council, all the European In- habitants and the several merchants under our protection, proceeded to Castle Green, where the Troops being drawn up, His Majestys Proclamation of Peace was read by the Secretary mounted on horse-back, after which three vollies were fired by the Troops and twenty-one guns from the artillery.

Tuesday, 20%.— Sailed a Dutch Snow to the Southward & the "Lively" Ketch, Captain Brad, to Bombay.

Surat, 20% September 1763. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Hodges, EsqL, Chief.

Cecil Bowyer. Charles Whitehill. Thomas Mostyn.

John Stephenson. Robert Gambier absent by leave. Read & approved our last Consultation of the 8^ instant.

The Chief acquaints the Board that the Nabob has frequently during the rain expressed an inclination to visit him and which he has as often waved on account of not having anything

SUItAT DIARIES. 371

suitable to present him with and in the hope that something might be procurable at the opening of the season. On such an occasion as his first visit after the Hon1'!? the President and Council their choise of him, and to give that the more weight and consequence in the eyes of Marattas and all settled in this place, the Board are of opinion the amount of the present should not be less than ten thousand Rupees for himself and his officers, and as some Superfine Scarlet Cloth and Europe Velvet among other things will be very acceptable, agreed that we request our Superiours to send us twelve pieces of the former and two of the latter, viz. one crimson and one green.

THC-s. HODGES. J. STEPHENSON.

Sural, Sunday, 11* December 1763. Hon"? Sir & Sirs,

The gold received per Ship "Latham " has been disposed off at the rate of Rs. 12-2 pel tola one month & halfs time, & the forty-one Arcot Rupees for twelve Rupees and a quarter each. The musters of Venetian gold have been showed to the Merchants, who say if there is not a great quantity of it, it will fetch fifteen Rupees per Tola, but no one chuses to contract for any till they know the whole quantity. On weighing the above gold it turned out Surat tolas 2716 vols 6£.

We are, Surat, 11* December 1763. Humble Sir & Sirs,

Your most obedl humble Servant.

Surat, Thursday, 9$ February 1764.

Sailed the " Viper " Ketch and two Gallivatts on a cruize.

The Chief having been informed that on the evening when he went to visit the Dutch Chief he was saluted only with fifteen guns, though it has been hitherto always customary to salute the Chiefs of all European Nations in Surat with twenty-one, he sent Captain Gleety to the Dutch Chief this morning to acquaint him in a friendly manner of the mistake, and to propose a remedy for it, viz. that the Chief would take an opportunity of going to the Companys gardens, and as he went past the Dutch Bunder that they should salute him with twenty-one guns and send two members of their Board to him at our Garden to appologize f or the mistake of 15 guns, when he would order it to be returned, gun for gun ; also, that they should salute him with the same number on his return to the Factory, which would be assured in the same manner ; but which he not thinking proper to comply with, the Chief directed Mess™ Stephenson & Bourchier to wait on him in the afternoon to demand that satisfaction which they would have done had he not in answer to their message acquainting him of their intentions desired they would defer it till tomorrow.

Surat, Friday, 10% February 1764.

Messl. Stevenson & Bourchier waited on the Dutch Chief to demand the satisfaction noticed yesterday for the public affront offered to our nation in this city in not saluting the

372 BUR AT DIARIES.

Chief with twenty-one guns as usual, & at the same time endeavoured to convince him of the propriety of his complying with the proposal made to him by the Chief yesterday morning by Captain Gleety if no affront was designed, which the Chief was willing yet to believe, to which he replied that he meant no affront, and that he would send two gentlemen of his Council to assure the Chief that he had no such intentions, that his only reason for it was his having no more than fifteen guns mounted and that he had no proper artillery people. He was afraid of letting them be loaded twice for fear of accidents as there was at present a pensioner belonging to their Company who had lost an arm by his unskillfulness.

Surat, Friday, 2JfiL February 1764.

Mynheer Blaakamer waited on the Chief this morning from Mynheer Synff, the Dutch Director, to know his ultimate resolution w!^ regard to the satisfaction required for the mis- take in the salute. He was answered no other could be accepted than that demanded under the 9^ instant. Mynheer Blaakamer then asked if that part which required two of their Councils waiting on him at the garden to tell him the salute was made for him could not be dispensed with. The Chief replied by no means, as without hearing that from their own mouths the salute could not be returned, as it might else have possibly been made upon drinking some health or other, to which Mynheer Blaakamer acquiescing, promised in his Directores name that this afternoon if the Chief chose it this matter would be accordingly settled to his satis- faction.

Manifest of Bales said to contain Diamonds value R4 15570, being marked and num- bered as & per margin, laden by Moses Tobias on " The Royal," Honorable Captain Lesly Baillie, consigned to the Honourable Charles Crommelin Esqr_ at Bombay, and to be sent to Europe on the ship " Speaker," Captain James Dewart, and there to be delivered to MessIE Levi Ruben Solomen, merchants in London.

This evening the Chief, accompanied by the Gentlemen of Council and some others, went to the Honourable Companys garden in order to receive the satisfaction agreed on this morn- ing, and as he passed the Dutch Bunder was saluted with twenty-one guns, after which a depu- tation from the Dutch, viz. Mynheers De[Tonge & Blaakamer, came to him at the Gardens and appologized in a suitable manner for the mistake of his being saluted with fifteen guns when he visited their Chief, acquainting him at the same time that the salute of twenty-one guns made by them as he passed their Bunder was intended by way of satisfaction to him for it, upon which the Chief instantly ordered their salute to be returned, gun for gun, and when he passed their Bunder in return to the Factory, he was again saluted with twenty-one guns, which was immediately answered with the same number from our Battery.

Surat, 27* June 1764.

Translate of a letter from Padree Wendell to Padree Medard : — Reverend Father,

I sent an express the 21s! March with letters to the R. F. John Baptist, Ml. Hodges and Ml Briancourt, and I wrote you again the 2 A, the 34, 12^, and lastly the 28!^ April. I hope

SUBAT DIARIES. 373

that all those letters have arrived safe. In each of them I observed to you what then had passed here.

It is now four days that a report has prevailed here of a misfortune happening to the English near Patnah. On the 22^ April the Viziers advanced guard consisting of 5 or 6000 Mogul and Persian Horse gained some small advantage over a piquet guard of the English and a convoy of a Chief called Hander Kaun.

Fifteen days after the whole army (the Kings) crossed the river near Daugnagur, 30 corse from Patnah and marched within 5 corse of Patnah, imagining that the English had abandoned their stations, returned to Patnah, and here united all their different detachments, that they (the Moguls) thought they had nothing to do but to approach, and that on their first appearance the English would march off and leave them the field. Such was the arrogance and presumption the retreat of the English had filled them with. On the 5* April they encamped near Polhvaria, and at last out of patience, on the 2_?_ of the month, or rather the first of the Moon, according to the calculation of the Moors, about 1 1 in the afternoon they attacked, on all sides, the English trenches, and imagined that they had only to do with soldiers of Indostan. The English let them come very near, in order not to loose one shot, and when they had them once within proper dis- tance gave them such a salute that these blind Cavaliers forgot to fight and to conquer. The can- nonading lasted on both sides till three o'clock in the afternoon in which they (the Moguls) lost above 2000 dead on the spot, besides the wounded, and among the dead many officers of note. They retreated above three corse. Upon that two Batalions of English Seapoys advanced with two field pieces to endeavour to carry off the Viziers artillery which consisted of 5 pieces of cannon, which kept up a very good fire, being well served by the enemies' Europeans. The Moguls fell once more upon those Seapoys, but immediately as the English Seapoys saluted them with their field pieces, they abandoned the attack. During these intervals the Viziers cannon were drawn off to the general camp, which was already retreated 5 corse off. Such is the success of this enterprise as has been wrote to me third of this month from the Viziers camp. Four days before there was a confused rumour of this, but nothing certain could be collected. Patnah is 10 good days journey from this place, and supposing therefore that in 5 days they should have had news of this unlucky event for the Moors, but no one would say how, where, or in what manner it happened. Now these proud Musslemen are little humbled and have begun to think that the Europeans know how to fight as well as themselves. Before those events their insolence was insupportable. The retreat of the English towards Patnah had changed them into lyons & tygers : they became too proud to know themselves and insulted everybody.

In their camp now flour is at 4 lbs. for a Rupee. No hay, no grass or water to be got in the neighbourhood, and the Viziers own province already seems to be alarmed. One such stroke of experience more will satisfy them, and if the English soon receive reinforcements they have won, and certainly did well to retreat under Patnah, where everything is at hand which never could have been the case if they had been situated near here, for they would have run a risk of being surrounded as the force of the enemy amounts to 100000 men, but the country is so ravaged that there is no longer any villages standing. The English have in their quarters abundance of provisions and amunition and cannot well want. Any further particulars I will write you hereafter, for I now wrote in haste that you might receive the good news soon. Make my compliments to Mr_ Hodges, in particular to M*. Briancourt & F. John Baptist. By a better opportunity I will write you all the circumstances of this engagement. 'Tis said that the English have in Patnah 16 batalions of Seapoys, 2000 Europeans and 10000 Cavalry besides two batalions in Mungneer. I hope yet that they will handle these proud imperious infidels still more roughly. God keep them in his holy protection and give them fresh force, and do you, my

B 1255—94

374

SURAT DIARIES.

good Father, by your holy prayers preserve and defend me amongst these beasts ; conqueror or conquered, they still are unhuman.

I am, &!L,

P. X. WENDELL.

Surat, Saturday, 7% July 1764.

Account Salary due to the Honite Companys Covenanted Servants at Surat commencing tlie 2!L January

and ending 81&_ July, 17 6 ^., niz£

	Time commenced.	Time ending.		Salary per annum.	Salary due.	Exchange.
			M?t-	Days.	£. s. d.	£. s. d.		Rs. qrs. rs.
Thomas Hodges, EsqL , Chief	2<L January ...	1<* July ...	6	0	100 0 0	50 0 0	8	400	0 0
Mr Robert Gambier, Gen. Merch.	Ditto	Ditto ...	6	0	30 0 0	15 0 0		120	0 0
ML. John Stephenson ditto	Ditto	Ditto ...	6	0	30 0 0	15 0 0		120	0 0
M£_ Willm Stratton ditto ...	Ditto	Ditto	6	0	30 0 0	15 0 0		120	0 0
M"L Charles Bourchier, Factor ...	Ditto	Ditto ...	6	0	15 0 0	7 10 0		60	0 0
Ml, George Perrott	Ditto	Ditto ..	6	0	5 0 0	2 10 0		20	0 0
D<L as Reader of Devine Service ...	Ditto	Ditto ...	6	0	50 0 0	25 0 0		200	0 0
Mr_ John Page, Surgeon	Ditto	lrt April ...	12	29	54 0 0	13 7 0i		106	3 26
Mt William Sennent, ditto	l»t April	1st July ...	3	61	54 0 0	13 12 114		109	0 74
					£ ...	157 0 0	or Rs. ...	1,256	0 0

Surat, Monday, 16l]L July 1764.

Translate of a letter received from Padree Wendell at Lucknore without date and addressed to the Chief of Surat : — Sir,

Above two months past I took the liberty of addressing you a second letter by means of Padree Medard. The Pattemar which I sent express with it is not yet returned. The news I had then to give perhaps surprised you, as they were not the most agreable. Since then you must doubtless have received further information of whatever has happened to this time through other channels. By the advices which have reached you from all sides, you must have learnt that your nation having hardly freed herself from one very formidable war in Bengal, was threatened to be overwhelmed by a new one still more dangerous, which the enemy escaped from the pursuit of your triumphant arms endeavoured to draw on her from all quarters. The money he (Cossim Ally Caun) carried away with him, prevailed even over those who a very little while before had offered you their friendship and assistance against this wicked fellow. But what could you expect from the friendship of those infidels. The event has manifested that all their proceedings were meant only to amuse you till such time as their hands were released from other engagements and free to make the stroke against you with greater certainty of success.

The enemys army combined against your nation, being encouraged by the unexpected retreat of your Peons, advanced even to Patnah, and believed that they had nothing to do but to advance on to make your troops quit their ground before them, and they should pro-

SURAT DTARim 375

ceed triumphantly into Calcutta to carry from thence men, women and riches &<* which they had already shared amongst themselves as they pleased. I dont know what reasons your Com* manders can have for quitting then the country and ahandoning it to the pleasure of an Army accustomed to pillage and ravages. I am even certain that the Moors would never have dared to pass the Ganges and proceed on so far if they had met with any opposition on your side, since it was easy for your Peons to have impeded their passage at very little cost as soon as the enemys army put themselves in motion which could not but be known to your people, and even had your Piquets stood their ground the Moors dared not have passed the river ; but it was judged proper to garrison Patnah, and assemble under the cannon all your Army. Then the country left at the mercy of the enemy has been so ravaged and destroyed that it cannot recover itself for many years.

The 3i of this month the Moors experienced to their loss that they had made great account of their bravery, or more properly speaking their numbers. They attacked with an asto- nishing fury the trenches before Patnah and were determined, cost what it would, to carry them by storm, sword in hand ; nor did they retire till after six hours battle and having their bravest troops extended dead on the field to the number of two thousand besides as many more wounded. Of this glorious day for your nation I have already 15 days ago given advice in a letter to Padree Medard, and I now remark to them, by a kind of journal, all that has come to my knowledge of what has happened since that day, desiring them to communicate to you, to save me trouble of writing and multiplying letters, for in the very hot weather I can do nothing without great fatigues.

This letter is only intended to congratulate you on this signal victory. If I am the first to advice you of this success, the Moors are become more humble, and nothing now is talked of but peace, which cannot be made but at the pleasure of the conquerors. Would to God that an opportune reinforcement was sent, to encourage your troops to check those infidels in the field, and strike the finishing stroke with the barbarians, whose impudence, insolence and pride are to me altogether insupportable. This is my wish, and this is my constant prayer. May Providence that for so many years past has governed your arms direct them once more on the present occasion, and this enemy once vanquished (which I hope will soon be the case) you may carry the terror of your arms wherever it shall please you. The Reverend Father Medard will inform you of the rest, and I have the honor to be, Sir, with much respect, your most humble and obedient servant,

P. X. WENDELL.

Luclcnore, the 18lA May 1764.

Extract from a relation or journal from the Viziers Camp near Daurnagur, the other side the river 25 Corse from Patnah and commencing from the 24*^ April from a German in the said Camp to Padree Wendell : —

The 221 instant our Moguls to the number of 5 or 6000 horsemen, met with a piquet and convoy of the English and attacked them not far from Patnah. 5 to 7 Europeans were killed and many Moguls. The Chief of the convoy, who is a relation of the famous Cauder Pahan, was made prisoner, and two elephants and a number of horses and oxen were taken. The convoy deserted, and our troops carried off the booty. The Vizier to encourage these Moguls has promised them for every head of a European 5 Gold Rupees and every head of a native soldier 2 Gold Rupees. Our advanced guard under three Commanders in Chief consist of 25000 horse without

376 SURAT DIARIES.

reckoning the foot seapoys. It is situated about 4 Corse from thence. Provisions are now at

61^ for the .Rupee, that is to say seer of Rice for a Rupee. Tomorrow or the day after

tomorrow shall begin our march.

April 30^\ — We are now near Palvariah, 5 Corse from Patnah. The English have abandoned this post and intrenched themselves about 3 Corse from hence under a small mountain ; there they have a communication with the Ganges. 'Tis said that we shall attack them in a short time. Our camp is badly situated ; no forage for the horses, or water near at hand, and the country is sandy. We have now no more than 4^ lb. Provisions for a rupee.

May 4*^. — Yesterday we ventured for the first time to attack the English. Yesterday morning the Nabob Vizier gave orders to all his troops, both horse and foot, to attack the English trenches with the greatest impetuous, and cost what it would to render themselves masters of them. After all the necessary arrangements we marched about ten o'clock towards the trenches, the troops of Cossim Ally Caun on one side with the Heavy Artillery of the Viziers and our own, where the Europeans were placed with 5 pieces of field Artillery, Cossim Ally Caun with the guns, the Camels their musquets and little guns on their saddles, the Potans with their guns, which they call here Ban, and the rest of the foot with their musquets. During this time the most daring of the Cavalry approached towards the English sword in hand, reckoning to make themselves master of their cannon, but they reckoned w^out their host. The English received their first salute with a profound silence, and let our people come very near in order not to lose their shots in the air. Then on the very first fire of the English those brave fellows were all of them thrown to the earth, but still their fury was so great that they did not retire but persisted during three hours in their intention of forcing the trenches. The fire of the English was continued and kept up so well that it was impossible to approach them. Our Artillery too kept up so good a fire that the artillery of the English scarce prevailed against our 5 pieces. In the end when it was perceived that the ground was covered with the carcases of men and horses and that we had kept our ground all that time to no purpose, all the army retreated to their camp and abandoned us with our five Cannon, Immediately two Batallions of Seapoys from the English camp with two pieces of Cannon approached us to endeavour to take our guns, but as they came on to attack us on the left, some of the Viziers and Moguls that yet remained imagined that the English were retreating, and immediately attacked them sword in hand with great fury. The Commander of the English detachment let them come close, and then fired upon them with grape and musquetery in such a manner that all except those that ran away fell. During this interval we retreated a little away with our guns and fired on the English. As long as we had any ammunition the Seapoys still advanced right upon us, and as we had no ammunition left we were obliged to retire with precipitation, but with the help of God brought our five pieces to the Camp, which we consider- ed as lost, and in such case we should have been condemned. Notwithstanding we had no more ammunition left, we lost one man who was an Englishman, a Dutchman mortally wounded who came to us with the French, two bullocks killed and the keeper of the bullocks wounded, and we have lost also a chest of cartridges and ball. We have left of the Nabob Viziers army above two thousand dead on the spot (without reckoning the troops of Cossim Alii Caun) and much greater number wounded, which will doubtless increase the number of dead, but at pre- sent we cannot reckon with any certainty. Two Commanders-in-Chief amongst the slain and others wounded, some mortally. The whole army is full of terror and lamentation. According to all appearance the English have not lost 30 men.

N. B. — Here at Lucknore they make the number of dead amount to 5000, and these the best troops, as many wounded, and some chief officers whom they will not name. The French

SURAT DIARIES. 377

that came to us at Caramnassa are in a very bad condition. Of 150, scarce 50 now remain, they kill themselves with guns and swords, and in the last affaire dishonor to Europeans, some returned and took refuge with the English. It would have heen better for our service, which is now lost, that those had never joined us, all the Germans and other Europeans will certainly take the opportunity of the next attack to steal away, if any one remains till that time. If we do attack them another time, which tis said we shall, who is it that will serve those barbarians without powder and amunition and let himself be killed for nothing.

May 8*. — We have abandoned Palvariah with a design of approaching nearer to tha trenches. The Vizier is marched to the right of Patnah and Fatnah. The army is divided and placed all round Patnah to prevent all access. Six thousand horse are to pass the river and encamp near Hassipor to ravage the country all round, in order to force the English to come out and hazard a battle with us, on which we hope to overpower them by number, but I am of oppinion that we shall just get as much as we did the first time. We ourselves are dying of hunger, and who knows whether the English will not seek us for their own accord, for they well know our bravery and courage. God orders all things for the best. All the Army wishes Cossim Ally Caun with his money at the Divil and the Vizier never imagined the English would stand before him. Now he has experienced and wont triumph so soon as he expected, nor as it seems return into his country as he came.

May 20*^ . — From the Camp . To prevent a rebellion in the country no one is

suffered here to write his mind freely. It is certain that they are so badly accomodated every way that they study by every means to palliate their grief and concern, and to the Courts all the Rajahs they write false consolatory letters to the families of the dead and wounded.

Extract of a letter from Padree Wendell to Padree Medard.

Reverend Father, Agra, 15l* June 1764.

Since I left Lucknore I have learnt nothing certain to this time from the King and Viziers camp nor have I received any new letters which I can depend on here. At Agra there is a fresh report of a peace being concluded on these conditions, that the jurisdiction of Patnah shall be yielded to the Viziers only son, all the rest of Bengali to Jaffir Ally Khan, and a large sum of money is to be given to the King or the Vizier. Tis said a Crore, and that this sura is to be paid by Cossim Ally Khan out of the treasure which he carried from Bengali. Thus this man with all the money and expense has lost all hopes of being restored in Bengali, which is what I have long foreseen. The English will never admit of such a peace as this without they are concmered or near being so. In time we shall know the truth of this report.

Extract of another letter from the same Padree, dated at Lucknore the 24^ of May. Since the third of this month nothing has happened. Great heat rages in the Moors Camp, but their ardor for fighting the English is frozen. Peace is much talked of. I have given in my journal an account of all transactions up to the 10^.. Since the 12th they wrote that the Moors are incamped 3 corse from Patnah and are raising Batteries to reduce the English as soon as possible. They say too that they are sending out various detachments to ravage the country and at the same time they talk of peace, but that will be as the English pleases. There is a general mourning in this town on account of the great number of dead, yet notwithstanding their pride is not quelled every day new coffins are brought in, which increased the lamentations. They are b 1255- 95

378 SURAT DIARIES.

so much enraged at this first salute of the Europeans, that if it was in their power they would tear them to pieces with their teeth. One dare not open ones mouth for fear of heing devoured by those wolves. They remark too from the Camp that again a great dispute has broke out between the King and the Vizier. That the King had never any inclination to march against the English is well known, and I have often observed it to you ; nevertheless he was obliged to do it for his authority. If a shadow, the Kings uncle has to this time held a secret correspondence with the English, and it is said that his letters have lately fallen into the Viziers hands. The Kings spies are kept confined day and night and his uncle arrested and kept prisoner by the King with the Viziers troops. I wish only that the English could get a reinforcement. In my oppinion they seem to act with too much caution and appear too timid. If the English had stood their ground near Caramnassa they could have most easily prevented the enemy from passing the Ganges. The Marattas already assemble and begin to usurp the country ; the Kings Army wants to return and the friendship between the Vizier and Cossim Ally Caun cannot hold long, for the Vizier wants to fortify himself in this country, which he at present possesses, which is what I have foreseen ; that is to say, the Vizier would render himself master of Patnah with the money and at the expenses of Cassim Ally Khan. They say that the Europeans are magicians, for otherwise they never could fire and reload their Cannon so fast.

P.S. — The English do not move at all. Most likely they think that in short time the rains will fight their battle. This coolness makes the Moors vomit out expressions unworthy the name and glory of the English.

P.S. — From the Viziers Camp near Patnah the 14** May. — All the Army is at present situated between Patnah and Fatnah near the Ganges. On the side of Jaffir Khans gardens we keep Patnah as strictly blockaded as tis possible. The English seem little bold. Since the affair of the 34. May to this day they kept themselves in the fortress and trenches and never fire a shot but when our people draw too near. Tis said that if the Vizier who is sick could mount on an elephant or on horse-back we should once more attack their trenches. We are working to make batteries and approaches, but I am affraid that the rain which advances will extinguish all the fire. There is very different discourse about an accommodation, but all is yet uncertain. According to all appearance Cossim Ally will pay the whole cost and go about his business without either Patnah or Kassanah.

P.S. — Of the 25th of the same month. If one was to believe the Moors letters the English are much streightened and beg for peace. My letters say nothing of this except that Jaffir Ally Khan has sent a man to taulk about a peace. The Moors desire more a peace in order that their disgrace may be somewhat covered.

P.S. — Lucknore the 27^! May. Peace is talked of. It is said that the English are blockaded on every side. Tomorrow I go to Agra, from whence I shall write more.

Extract of a letter from Padree Tiefenthaler, a Jesuit, to Padree Medard, dated at Marwar

the 31s* of May. Since the English (against the oppinion of all the world) withdrew from Caramnassa and took refuge under the cannon of Patnah, the King, Vizier and Cossim Ally Khan have taken heat and approached to Patnah, which place they now actually beseige. There is much firing on both sides. It is suspected that the Moors have more Europeans than the English. From their retreat the Moors have got courage and it is said that the English wait for succours from Europe. If the Moors had really courage, they might destroy Bengal. The Moors reckoned to have at least 60000 horse besides their foot and Europeans. Their Camp is seven corse in

8URAT DIARIES. 379

length. Most of the inhabitants of Patnah have come out on account of the scarcity of provisions. Thisnewsis certain. and you make the English Chief of Surat acquainted with it. Padree Wendel speaks much in commendation of the English Government of Calcutta and we have therefore obligations to the whole nation.

Tuesday, 17^. — Wrote the following letter to Bombay by Pattemar : — Hon"! Sir and Sirs,

Since writing the above Aga Haddy Caun has sent the Chief a letter which he had received from the Kings Camp before Patnah, dated the lOLh June, mentioning that the Kings Vizier had taken possession of all Cossim Ally Cauns jewels, treasure, elephants and horses for the payment of the Army, which we hope to hear confirmed.

We are with Respect, 17* July 1764. Hon"6 Sir and Sirs,

Your most Obedient Humble Servants.

To Padree Medard. Reverend Sir,

This 15 days past I did myself the honor to write to you by a Pattemar of the Shroffs which left this place for Surat. I there gave you an account of all that had come to my notice since the departure of my two Pattemars, despatched from hence the 5*i? November last. I wait with impatience the return of my Pattemar of the 61h October, as I recommended to you not to detain him at Surat, and behold it is almost two months he has been out. I cannot imagine what can be the reason of this delay. Tis this that discourages me from sending you Pattemar?, as neither by them or any other way can I obtain any answer to an infinite number of letters I am constantly writing to you.

I shall now give you an account of the battle which happened between the English and the Army of the Nabob Souja Doula and in which the first mentioned were victorious, as I have already had the pleasure to acquaint you by two Pattemars despatched purposely express, and thus as before have I learnt the first advices they have here from the Army. I shall acquaint you with the success of constant fortune which has taken pleasure to accompany the Britanish arms in this country, for to speak the truth, tis to her that they ought for the most part to attribute the advantage and the signal victory which they have gained of the Moors, till now victorious on this occasion. Behold the affair of it happened.

" Camp of the Nabob Souja Daula, near Ellahabad, 221 November. " The 22d_ of October last the English being advanced very near our Camp towards night, early the next morning the 23'i. our Nabob made a defile of the Army with the Artillery. They begun to fire the cannon about nine in the morning, which was continued briskly on both sides till three in the afternoon, when the English Seapoys begun to give way and retired to a burnt village. At the same time the Moguls, sword in hand, entered the English camp and began to pillage in such a manner that nothing belonging to the English escaped, not a tent. Somers at the same time kept a continued fire at the English plattoon, which advanced towards him, but gave way by degrees and begun to retire, that is to say swiftly. Isaluli Chaun also unfortunately fell, one of the Nabobs freed men and commander of a thousand horse, but only followed by

380 SURAT DIARIES.

about dozen, and this began to throw the Moors into a panick. The English rallied and detached 2 battalions of Seapoys to Are on the place of the people belonging to Rajah Benem Bahader, and he having fallen from his wounded elephant mounted a horse to seek for his master and to acquaint him of the danger, and behold the whole army in disorder, and every one running away at full speed. The Vizier and the Rajah were the first to show the way to the others. The Moguls who remained in the field at the same time fell on the Vizier, pillaged the Shroffs, their tents and even the treasure and the tents of their master the Nabob. It was in this tragical confusion that so many people were killed. The English had nothing to do but to pursue the fugitives, being stripped of all they had, and not able to carry anything off. All the artillery, great and small baggage, tents &c^ were the prize and recompense to the English, become conquerors in an instant. Behold the whole affair which has lost the English much blood. They had above 300 whites killed, above 200 wounded, above 3000 Seapoys killed and wounded. They would have been beat if the Moors horse had supported the Europeans in the Nabobs service, who had behaved well. On the side of the conquered with a few officers we had not above 4 or 500 killed and about as many wounded, the most part suffocated or drowned in their flight in passing a small river or Nala near Bagsar not far from the field of the battle. The Vizier did not take breadth till at Ramgar, and from thence to Genagur two forts near Benarees, and not molest the King nor his people, and he is now with them at Benarees &c±."

You see, my Reverend P., what they have wrote me touching this action, and it is as parti- cular as you could wish. You can impart it to the English if they are curious, if they have not received accounts of it. Amongst the Europeans in the service of Souja Doula, there are two killed, some with their limbs broke, and some dangerously wounded. Most of the artillery is sent to Patnah and the remainder to other places. They mounted 300 pieces counting the yierries or reoales, as the Indostans call them. This is all regarding this affair. The English then took possession of Gazipore, and leaving a garrison there are come near to Benares by land and by the river Ganges. The 13^ November their head officers came into this rich city to visit the King, who has quitted Souja Doula and is now with them. Raja Benim Bahader is also come to see if there is any hope of a peace for the defeated Nabob. They have given 5 days to give a categorical answer, but the proposals are of such a nature as rather to make him risk all than to comply with them. They have got no answer as yet. They demand nothing less than Gazipore, Benares, Ninargar, & Ellihabad, and all the country depending on them. They have laid a contribution on Benares of 18 lacks in the Kings name and have already received eight, and they are diligently endeavoring to raise the remainder. This alarms all the Shroffs of Indostan who have much to loose in this city. The King has quitted the late Vizier. This poor Nabob has been so miserably handled of late that he hopes to get more in Indostan with the assistance of the English than by any other way. Let us see the sequel of this tragic comedy which for so many years to this day has continued on this unhappy theatre and without abating and every season has furnished new revolutions. Souja Doula having rested at Ellahabad, taken some money also the Artillery from this place & Genargur, has again assembled an army of near 30000 Horse and is this day encamped near the Ganges, about this place, with an intention to pass the river and attack the English, who are assembled together at Benares in all 12 or 13000. Time will show if he comes off with more success than hitherto.

His mother the grand Begame is gone for Lucknoor to assert their right in that city and the country in revolt. They have ordered boats to be brought from all parts for their assistance and the army to pass and begin again hostilities. This is the news of this country.

8URAT DIARIES. 381

As for me I would give them advice more proper for the situation of the Nabob & Ml him he ought to be wiser by the two lessons they have just given him. TheM people an- alv. the same ; tis therefore in vain to teach them, they are always actuated like Leasts on the same occasion. Can they expect better success in future then they have hitherto had) At the saine time will good fortune always follow the English \ Wont she leave them I Perhaps when they don't think of it, and make the formidable conquering triumphant English.

even as the Indostau, that is as the Sovereign Lord of Arms and Countries may determine.

Here the last month there was a bloody affair between the Jauts and the Bohdae near Dilli. They both remain a little bold after this first rencounter. Dilli is surrounded by the Marattas and the Jauts and Bohelas within are hard pressed by them. Famine is to the last degree in the city, and in a fews days there will he an affair which will not give less reason for taulk to the public than that of the Nabob Soujah Dowla below. May the Lord bleet us i^ all that J have to say amongst so many troubles this unhappy country is devoured with & yet threatened with more.

This is sufficient, R. P., that I have the honor to acquaint you with this time. I think it is enough. Excuse my French as you will have me write in it. except the quantity & if it loaths you reject the quality. It is always to prove to you that I am &cl_.

Agra, Decemher 1764. My most humble respects to the gentlemen and the Governor. I believe we shall have the English much nearer Agra than Patnah, at which time we shall not want suhject for our correspondence.

Is there any news from Europe ? Here they acquaint me that Louis XV is dead, and the Dauphin on the throne, and that many have been beheaded on this occasion.

All the riches confiscated by Cossim Ally Khan, left at Benares, are fallen again into the hands of the English &cfr. Nothing saved but what the Begam carried with her to Ellihahad a few days before.

The Frenchmen in the service of the Nabob behaved extremely well on this occasion and kept up a brisk fire on the English, which they will never forget. But this to ourselves. Son shined and is Chief of the Artillery, and I hear he is day and night very bttSJ in fitting up the Nabobs artillery in proper order which are taken from the fortifications.

Surat, SS^1 January 1765.

Extract from a paper of Intelbgence received from the Padree at Lucknore without a date, except the postscript, which is dated the 14111 December 1704.

All the news contained in the Padrees Papers is as follows : that the Vizier has collected a new Army to the amount of near 40000 men & marched towards Benares, but halted, and remained by their last advices at a place about 7 corse from Allahabad. That he had taken out and sent away from that place every thing that was valuable, with the grand Begam, Cassim Ally Khan and a few servants to Lucknore. That most of the French which came last year to Soujah Dowla were deserted with their leaders for fear of being delivered up or falling into the hands of the English. That Somers was all in all with Soujah Dowla & almost Commander-in-Chief of the Army. That he had collected with great difficulty a very few pieces of Artillery fit for the field service from the place yet subject to Soujah Dowlah, which were put under his charge to mount and fit for service, together with 4 small pieces which were saved from the three hundred which they before had. That Somers was also busy in recruiting the Seapoys and supplying them with b 1255—96

382 SUE AT DIARIES.

arms, for which purpose he had bought up six or eight hundred stand of arms quite new taken in the English Camp the day of action. That of eighteen lacks which he had demanded of the merchants of Benares under the Kings name, we had only recovered five. That Soujah Dowlah in his flight had left a prey to the conquerors twenty two lacks of his treasure. That the English in conjunction with the King were engaged in the siege of Outhenargur, a fort situated on an high rock about 7 corse from Benares on the other side of the Ganges, and that half of the English force was encamped further on above the place. That it was not known what agreement we had made with the Kings Kaunsamma or Lord Chamberlain of the Household that was elected Vizier in the room of Soujah Dowlah. In a postscript dated the 14* December there follows that the English were retired on that side of the river and were attacking Outhenargur, & Soujah Dowlah was encamped near Jenpore about 18 corse from Benares upon the Gamdi ; that Outhenargur was situated about 7 corse from Patnah and two from Ramgar and was situated upon a high rock which commanded part of the Ganges.

Extract of a letter from Padree Wendell at Agra, 2_^ Jan?. 1765. As to the news of the country below, for this long time we have heard very little. It is certain that this primitive eagerness is grown cold and that the English have not known how or would not profit by their fortune. They have disappeared at Thenargur, and as it is firmly reported have fared very ill and have been driven back with a loss of their people, which has at the same time made them give over any further thoughts of returning to the enterprise. 'Tis said they are incamped four corse below Benares. The battle near Bagsar and this resent loss have very much deminished their forces and they have nothing to do at present but to oppose Soujah Dowlah and not let him pass the river. They are yet masters of Benares and defend this city by the Artillery placed on the border of the Ganges opposite to the old fort & a little higher. This is all we know of the war below. As for Soujah Dowlah they are making great preparations to attack the English at all events and carry the war into the neigh- boured of Patnah.

Surat, Thursday, 10* October 1765. Wrote the following Letter to Bombay and dispatched it by Pattamar express : — Hones' Sir & Sirs,

We addressed your HonJi &c±_ last the 2i_ instant & on the 72£ received your commands of the lit p. ship "Royal Admiral," which vessel we propose returning in two or three days, this being dispatched express to give cover to translate of an extract of a letter from Padree Wen- dell to Padree Medard, dated at Ellihabad the 21 *± August, as delivered by him to the Chief, containing the purport, if not a copy, of the articles of peace concluded between Lord Clive and Soujah Dowla.

We are with respect, Surat, 101Jl. October 1765. Hon^f Sir & Sirs,

Your most obe^L & humble Serv*!

Extract dated from Ellihabad, 21 % August 1765. Yesterday I had both the honor and pleasure of being present at the solemnity performed at the conclusion of the treaty of peace & alliance which is just concluded with the Nabob Sujah Doulah. It has been on foot ever since the arrival of my Lord Clive, that is to say for twelve

SURAT DIARIES. 383

days. Yesterday morning it was sworn to, signed, and exchanged in due form. The conditions are contained in a few words, viz i.

That the Nabob shall pay fifty Lacks for the expences of the War brought upon the Eng- lish &c-f. , whereof he has paid 17 Lacks in ready money and 8 in Jewels, which are to be re- turned him upon his paying to that amount in ready money ; the remainder, to complete the sum of fifty Lacks, is to be paid within the term of seventeen months. The Nabob obliges him- self neither to give protection or suffer any of his Dominions to receive Cassum Aly Khan or Sommer, that murderer of so many Patriots. That the Nabob shall let those who, before or during the War, favoured the English, enjoy a perfect tranquillity and all the advantages of this peace and alliance. That the Subaship of Ellabad with its Dependencies shall remain as an appendage for the King Alam Shah. That the provinces of Benares & Gazipore shall be kept in deposit till the above conditions are performed, when the Rajah Balvansing shall be put in pos- session of them, but holding of the Nabob Sujah Doulah as before. That for the same purpose the fortress of Chenegar shall remain in the hands of the English. That the country shall be evacuated in three months, reckoning from this day, except by those who are to remain for the safety of his Indostan Majestys person, & that no other troops shall enter the said country without it be for that purpose. That between the Nabob Vizier, Soujah Doulah and the Nalxjb Najum Dolla son of Jaffer Aly Khan, now Nabob of Bengali, there shall be reciprocal friendship & alliance as well as with the Hon^.6 Company, so that the HonbJf? Company is engaged to assist with what force they can said Nabob Vizier and he shall bear the expence, & in case of need the said Nabob shall assist the English. That Sujah Doulah shall not keep in his service any English deserter nor afford them asylum, but he shall restore them. That the Nabob shall grant the Company free commerce in his Dominions. That there shall be between this Nabob, the Nabob of Bengali & the Honbi? Company a sincere and perfect alliance, friendship and good correspondence. Done at Ellabad the 16*]L August, sworn and signed the 20!!} August 1765> and sealed with the Royal seal.

SUJAH DOULAH.

CLIVE.

J. CARNAC.

GEORGE VANSITTART.

CIIELAL RAJ.

MEER CASSUM &<±

ARCH : SWINTON.

Three copies in English and Persian.

After this ceremony, which was performed about nine o'clock, presents were made to the Nabob Vizier, viz.1 a pair of choice Pistols, two repeating Watches one gold the other silver, a rich piece of Gold Cloth, one of Velvet, several pieces of English Cloth of different colours, several pieces of Daca Cloth, and lastly a pretty paroquet from Brazil, & my Lord Clive after this put a Diamond worth as it is said 16000 Rupees upon the breast of the Nabob. The Nabob soon after went away, and at his going on board was saluted with 19 Guns. He passed the Ganges & sett off immediately for Arat. My Lord Clive will go for Calcutta tomorrow that he may arrive there as soon as possible to dispatch a vessel to Europe. The other officers will set out after him.

The King does not seem over & above satisfied with this sudden change. He thought himself already on the Throne of Dilhi, and he is yet a great way from it, and as he fears almost aban- doned in the middle of the way. However, by the Guard which is given him, it seems as if they would render him respectable. A Colonel is expected here to command the troops which are left with him here, & which are to be left at Chenargur to quiet his Majestys apprehension.

P. X. WENDELL, S. J.

384 SVIiAT DIARIES.

Surat, Thursday, 20%. February 1 766. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Hodges, EsqIL, Chief.

Robert Gambier. John Stephenson.

William Stratton. Charles Bourchier.

George Perrott. The Chief acquaints the Board that as this is the Hooley, a great feast among the Gentoos, it may be reasonably expected that most of the Cooley vessels will be in their different ports, and that he finds from Captain Carruthers that the "Viper" with four Gallivats, two armed boats and four fishing boats, for the conveniency of landing the people, are in his opinion fully suffi- cient to attempt the destroying them, if about fifty Seepoys more be added to the detachment that was put on board them in December last, which being taken into consideration, it is unanimously agreed to send them and that the Military force be put under the command of Lieutenant Westphall. Directed therefore that the Secretary immediately issue the necessary orders. THOMAS HODGES.

ROBERT GAMBIER, JOHN STEPHENSON. WILLIAM STRATTON. CHARLES BOURCHIER. GEORGE PERROTT.

Surat, Monday, 17'Jl March 1766.

Monday, 17*.— The Diary of William Andrew Price, Esquire, Chief, for all affairs of the Bri- tish Nation and Governor of the Moguls Castle and Fleet &?? Council, residing at Surat in the factory of the Hony? United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies and subordinate to the Hon^f Charles Crommelin, Esquire, President of the Coast of India, Persia & Arabia, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty s Castle and Island of Bombay &c?. Council.

This morning William Andrew Price, Esquire, came on shore at the Honl^ Companys Garden, accompanied by two members of the Board, the Nabobs brother, the Boxey Pharus Caun, an4 the Codjee, where he was received by all the other members of Council, the rest of the English Gentlemen and the principal Merchants of the City.

Surat, Thursday, 10% April 1766. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Hodges, Esqi, Chief. Robert Gambier. John Stephenson.

William Stratton. Charles Bourchier.

George Perrott. Read and approved our last Consultation of the 45* instant.

The Chief acquaints the Board that he has received information that the Dutch Chief and Council here are fitting out a force with an intention of seizing Gogo, and as their being in possession of that place might be attended with bad consequences to the revenues of this city, as it would most probably induce them in a great measure to quit their factory here, and for other reasons, the Board are of opinion that in order to prevent their getting possession there- of, it would be proper to offer the Rajah of Bhownagar, to whose jurisdiction it belongs, our

SURAT DIARIES. 888

assistance. It is therefore agreed that I pattamar boat with a Detachment of Military consist- ing of one Officer, one Sergeant, one Corporal and twelve Privates he immediately dispatched with a letter to Captain Robert Carruthers now there, directing him to deliver a letter which the Chief will write to the Rajah, acquainting him of our reasons for suspecting the Dutch of having intentions to attack Gogo, and that therefore out of regard to him we. had sent an officer with a Detachment to hoist English Colours there, which would effectually prevent their carrying their intentions into execution, and that both Captain Carruthers and the officer to be appointed to the Command of the said Detachment should have orders in case of the Rajah accepting our offer to proceed to Gogo, and if they should both be of opinion that the fort is tenable, that Captain Carruthers be ordered in such case to land the detachment on board his vessel and return agreeable to our orders of the 8*L, leaving the officer in command of the fort* and observing on no account to annoy or molest the Dutch except in the immediate defence thereof. But as it is probable that the fort cannot be defended by so small a number, the Board are of opinion that it will be necessary to draw out a protest to be delivered the officer commanding the Dutch forces on his appearing off Gogo, by the officer of our Detachment, to which if he should pay no regard, but commence hostilities, our troops should be directed to retreat to Bhownagar. Directed therefore that the necessary orders and the protest be immedi- ately drawn up.

Read a Report Survey of the provisions in the Castle as entered hereafter, by which it appearing that they are unfit to be issued to the Marine, directed that the whole be sold at publick outcry by Mess1^. Stratton and Perrott for the most they will fetch, and that the Mili- tary Paymaster lay in the same quantity of each,

W. A. PRICE.

R. GAMBIER.

J. STEPHENSON.

WILLIAM STRATTON.

CHARLES BOURCHIER.

G. PERROTT.

Friday, 11%. April 1766.

The Chief having received intelligence, since the Board met yesterday, that the Marattas have two hundred men in Gogo, as well as the Rajah of Bhawnagar, directed the Secretary to acquaint the Council that he did not think there was any probability of our people being admitted, and that therefore he proposed only writing to the Rajah to be upon his guard and intended mentioning the affair to the Maratta Agent here, which he hoped would frustrate the intentions of the Dutch against Gogo, if any such they had, as it was said a settlement was offered them at Bassein.

jSurat, Wednesday, 14& May 1766. At a Consultation, Present :

William Andrew Price, Esq.1, Chief.

John Halsey John Stephenson. Charles Bourchier.

Mr. Robert Gambier, indisposed. Read and approved our last Consultation of the 3i. instant, s 1255—97

William Stratton. George Perrott.

386 SURAT DIARIES.

The Board being now met and such of the Military Officers as can be spared from the Castle having attended, they were called in, when each person executed the Covenants relative to not receiving of presents from any of the Country powers above a certain sum, agreeable to the Hon1]1.6 the President and Councils orders. Directed that they be forwarded to Bombay by the return of the " Drake."

(Approved.)

ROBERT GAMBIER.

JOHN HALSEY.

J. STEPHENSON.

WILLIAM STRATTON.

CHARLES BOURCHIER.

GEORGE PERROTT.

Surat, Friday, 10lh- January 1772.

Per Express Pattamars forwarded the following letter to our Superiors : — Hon^l? Sir and Sirs,

By the resolution your Honor &ci were advised of the Marattas having blocked up the town, which they still continue to do, by preventing all kinds of merchandize and the necessaries of life from coming into it as far as they are able, but the river being open such quantities or provisions have been received that way, that almost every article is cheaper now then before they invested the place. At first it was concluded their appearance was to compell the Nabob to make good the arrears due to them on account their share of the revenues, but on the 241^ ultimo they sent their demands to the Durbar, which being almost wholly new, and if admitted would have put them on a footing with the Nabob, and in the end prove of dangerous conse- quences to the safety of the city, as amongst other extraordinary articles they wanted their people at all the gates, not only those in the hands of the Nabob, but such as are in our sole possession. They were peremptorily told their demands could on no account be consented to, and as the Chief on his taking charge had offered his mediation to get their disputes with the Nabob adjusted in an amicable manner, a negotiation in consequence took place. Their Agents came into town and had a meeting with the Nabob, who offered to satisfy them for what might be justly their due, and that he would give prompt and effectual orders that their share of the revenues should in future be regularly paid them, and they have no room for complaint. But as they still insisted on their people sitting at the gates on the Phoorzer Coosky &c±, nothing was concluded on and they returned to Camp ; and the Commanding Officer having requested that a person of credit on the part of the English might accompany them, a proper one was accordingly sent with them by the Chief, with orders to assure him of his readiness and desire to get matters accommodated between him and the Nabob ; and as he will know he was diffident of the Nabobs word, he himself would stand engaged that their arrears should be made good to them, their stated revenues punctually paid them in future, and the business go on in the usual manner ever since our taking possession of the Castle ; but with respect to their other demands, as they were not only new, but unreasonable, they could not be admitted. Their Agents, with the person the Chief sent to them, are again returned into town, in order to have some further conference with the Nabob ; and although they have informed the Chief they are willing to drop some of the articles, yet as they insist on the most essential ones, namely, their having their people at the gates Phoorzer Coosky &c±., which must on no account be admitted, we apprehend they will, in order to bring the Nabob to a compliance, distress the town to the utmost of their power, prevent the investment, the freight for the Mocha ship, and every other species of goods from coming into it by land. We therefore dispatch this express to advise your Honor &c » how

SURAT DIARIES. 387

matters are situated and which would have been done before could anything conclusive been wrote on or had not the Chief hoped that matters might by this hare been Settled, judging as above that they in fact only wanted their arrears made good to them and their stated revenues secured in future. But as from the tenor of their language they seem at present to have other views, we are apprehensive it may in the end be the cause of rupture between the Nabob and them, in which the lion1;1.6 Company must of course be interested.

A deputation is ordered to wait on the Nabob to inforce a compliance of his promise to the Chief for satisfying the Marattas for the amount of the arrears justly due to them. Their Agents will be desired to attend, that the Nabob may, in the presence of our Deputies, give them satisfaction on this head, who are to assure them that we shall take care their stated revenues be regularly made good in future and their privileges continued uninfringed in tin- manner usual ever since our taking possession of the Castle, but that no innovations or fresh indi- gencies whatever will be admitted of. This resolution is to be carried to their Commanding Officer by Sedee Jaffier on the part of the Nabob and Dunjee Shaw on that of the Hony? Company, which we hope may have the desired effect of bringing about an accommodation.

Your commands of the 27^ ult^ have been received and shall be punctually complied with.

Sarat, 10'1 January 1772. AVe are &c»

Surat, 1§& January 1772. Gentlemen, In consequence of your order we this morning waited on the Nabob, and told him that the Chief had laid before you an account of all the steps that had been taken to accommodate matters between him and the Marattas : and on deliberation thereon, you had been pleased to send us to desire his immediate compliance with his engagement with the Chief, to satisfy the Marattas for the arrears justly due to them, in future carefully and punctually to make good to them their just share of the revenues, and to admit of their business going on in the usual manner, but without granting them any new indulgencies or suffering any innovation whatever. And that you proposed Seedee Jaffier on his part, and Dunjee Shaw on ours, should be sent to the Maratta Camp to explain these things more fully to the Commanding Officer, and stay a convenient time to settle with him on these terms, if satisfactory to him, or otherwise to acquaint him that no further negotiation would be attempted. We desired the Nabob would be pleased to bring the Maratta Agents before him, and in our presence engage for the performance of these conditions, when we would promise them, on the part of the Chief and Council, that he should immediately satisfy them for the arrears that were justly due to them, and that the Chief and Council would use their influence with him fully to reform the rest ; and further, that we should tell him that Seedee Jaffier on his part and Dhunjee Shaw on ours must be sent to their Commanding Officer to explain these terms more fully. The Nabob declared his readiness to comply with the above in every particular, but did not entirely approve of sending Seedee Jaffier and Dhunjee Shaw immediately, as not conformable to the usual way observed in this sort of negotiation. However, on our representing that it was absolutely necessary, for many obvious reasons, to come to a speedy conclusion with the Marattas, he agreed also to this. The Maratta Agents being afterwards culled in, the Nabob assured them of all the particulars we had desired, but that no innovation whatever would be allowed of, and we in our turn did the same agreeable to your com- mands. The Maratta Agents had received an answer to the same purpose twice before, and did not seem at all satisfied with it now : they observed however that their master ought to be in-

388 SURAT DIARIES.

formed of what was passed, and an answer obtained from him, before Seedee Jaffier and Dhunjee Shaw were sent, or they would themselves go to him, to which we answered that as to writing or going themselves we had nothing to do with either, the Nabob and the Chief and Council having taken their final resolution. Before these Agents had been introduced we desired the Nabob would inform us what prospect he had of being able to distress the Marattas if we took care of the town in the mean time, as he had proposed to the Chief. He said he proposed to effect it by sending out small bodies of men to plunder and burn the Marattas villages, and in case of a rupture with the Marattas he might be in want of powder and shott, and should they receive any strong reinforcement he should also want money to enlist more troops. Having thus delivered all we had in charge, we took our leave, and are

Very respectfully,

Surat, 18* JanL 1772. JOHN HALSEY,

WILLIAM STRATTON.

Surat, 27* February 1772.

At a Consultation, Present :

William Andrew Price, Esq I , Chief. Robert Gambier. Thomas Day.

George Perrott. Daniel Seton. Frederick Dorrien.

William Stratton. Charles Bourchier. William James. John Halsey.

The Chief acquaints the Board that affairs are now finally adjusted between the Nabob and Marattas, the Nabob having engaged to pay them the balance, being 70000 rupees, in two equal payments, the first in eight days after their army decamps from before Surat, and the second in two months more, and he the Chief was obliged to become security for the payment, without which the Marattas would not be satisfied. That they have accordingly withdrawn their Chokies from the town gates and free communication is open with the country. Tho' matters are now concluded with the Marattas, yet as the town may again be exposed to insults from them by which the trade of the place and revenues will be much prejudiced, it is agreed to propose to the Hon^S the President and Council to settle with Maderow that the Hon^f Company should become security to the Marattas for their stated share of such part of the revenues as has been usual for them to receive since our taking possession of the Castle, and in such case Maderow give express orders to his officers not to give the least hindrance to the business of the city & free communication with the countries around us. This when accomplished will we hope effectually secure the end proposed and prevent these disagreeable visits in future.

R. GAMBIER. WILLIAM STRATTON. THOMAS DAY. CH. BOURCHIER. FRED DORRIEN, D. SETON.

Sec'? W. JAMES.

FRED. DORRIEN.

8UMAT DIARIES. 389

Surat, 8<h May 1772.

Some particulars relative to the Government of Broach from the time of Mirza Abdulla Begs accession thereto, who was the first person appointed to govern that place of the present

Nabobs family.

Broach and a small extent of country annexed to its Government were under the jurisdic- tion of the Subah of Amidavad till the decline of the Mogul power in this quarter, from the encroachments made by the Marat tas, which commenced about the beginning of this century, when the latter entering this Subahship with a very numerous army, defeated the forces sent against them from Delhi and in a few years entirely subdued some parts thereof and laid a tribute on the rest, whence arises the Marattas present claim to a share of the Broach revenues, which they have ever since reciL

In 1726 one Mirza Abdulla Beg, who was in the service of a considerable Omrah at Amida- vad, being much in favour with his master, obtained by his influence with the Subah the ap- pointment of Governor of Broach for his son named Mahomed Beg, but he dying immediately after, the father solicited it for himself, and was sent thither accordingly the same year. He brought with him his grandson, Neck Nam Caun (decended from Mahomed Beg) and two brothers named Neck Allum Caun and Kher Tullub Caun.

Mirza Abdulla Beg (who henceforward took the name of Caun Muhoom) governed this place without any material occurrence arising till his death, which happen'd in 1739, and was succeeded by his brother Neck Allum Caun, of whom also there is nothing more worth observation than that he continued in the Government till 1753 and dying, then his successor was Kher Tullub Caun, who having only governed seven months, died in 1754. At this period it happened that one Biccandass, who was a Dessoy and favorite of the Governor, infused a jealousy into his master of the designs of Neck Nam Caun, who he represented to him was using his interest at the Court of Delhi to displace Kher Tullub Caun and be appointed Governor in his stead, in consequence of which Neck Nam Caun was ordered to remove from Broach and retire to Surat, where he was soon made Subdar of Randerd.

Hossein Ally Caun, son to the last mentioned Governor, succeeded him at the age of 18 months, and because of his minority, his mother Biby Bawlon undertook the management of his affairs. One Bhoidass Mozumdar, a man of great wealth, now residing at Broach, being much disaffected with the Government in which the influence of Biccardass chiefly prevailed, with whom he was at great enmity and moreover desirous of ruining the latter, by effecting a revolu- tion in favour of Neck Nam Caun, who also entertained a bitter resentment against him for the disgrace he had suffered in being driven from Broach thro' his instigation ; he (Bhoidass) pre- vailed on some of the heads of the soldiers by promises of great rewards to enter into a con- spiracy against Hossein Ally Caun and bring in Neck Nam Caun to govern in his stead. A change in the Government accordingly ensued about nineteen months after Hossein AUy Cauns accession thereto.

Neck Nam Caun having thus become Governor by the assistance of Bhoidass, to gratify the resentment of his benefactor and revenge the insults he had himself rec'd, readily agreed to use every means in his power for the destruction of Biccaridass. With this view it was deter- mined, as Biccaridass had fled to Brodera in the late troubles, that Neck Nam Caun should feign a desire to be reconciled to him and have the benefit of his future services, in order to induce him to return to Broach. The scheme succeeded, and Biccaridass thus deceived into hopes of regaining his former credit and influence at this place, having quitted his retreat, and put himself into the hands of his enemies, was cut in pieces the moment he appeared in the presence

b 1255-98

390 SURAT DIARIES.

of Neck Nam Caun. Hitherto all those who had ruled in Broach were persons of inconsiderable rank, bearing no other title than that of Governor, but the one now in that station, finding himself in circumstances of great wealth, which had been amassed by his predecessors, made use of this means to raise himself to the dignity of Nabob, for which purpose a Phirmaund was procured by a large present to the Mogul. He lived till the year 1769, and was succeeded by his son.

Mahazuz Caun Emptyazul Dowla Bahadur Dilare Jung, the present Nabob, has ever distinguished himself by an insatiable thirst for money and a total disregard to good faith. In the management of his affairs he is greatly influenced by the counsels of Lullooboy, who there is reason to believe is much averse to the Hon^i Companys having a settlement in the Nabobs territories, from an opinion it would lessen his consequence, as at present every one there is in a great measure dependant on him, which could not be the case with those under the English protection, and therefore is labouring to prevent it, particularly by his representations to the Nabob that it would be dangerous to allow so formidable a nation any footing within his Govern- ment lest it should prove a temptation to attempt his destruction and be a means of their more easily accomplishing it. This Nabob has seven sons (of whom the eldest is now in about his fifteenth year), as many daughters, and an uncle named Izeut Ullah Caunchee. The unfortunate Hossein Ally Caun, who was displaced from his Government in his infancy, is also yet alive, together with his mother, and they receive a small allowance from the Nabob (one of whose daughters is married to the former) for their maintenance.

I beg leave to observe here that a son of Biccaridass above mentioned (whose name is Jum Etroy) being now alive at Brodra, and in high favour with Damajees sons, he would probably be glad to act a part favourable to the Hon^I? Company and be an usefull instrument should they hereafter have any point to carry at that Durbar to the prejudice of the Broach Nabob, from a motive of revenging his fathers death by injuring both him and Lulloobhoy, grandson of Bhoidass, the latter of whom would at least be mortified by the loss of the extensive power and influence he now enjoys, should this plan fall into our hands.

JAMES MORLEY.

The 6* May 1772.

Surat, Tuesday, 1* September 1772. At a Consultation, Present :

William Andrew, Price Esql, Chief.

Robert Gambier. Charles Bourchier. Frederick Dorrien.

John Halsey. Thomas Day. William James.

Mi- Stratton indisposed, and MessI? Perrott & Seton at Bombay.

Read & approved our last Consultation of the 12^ instant.

As the coaches and oxen at present kept by the Hon^l? Company for the use of the Factory are very expensive and by no means answer the end proposed, it is agreed to propose to the President & Council the laying them down. But as the Companys servants for want of a regular factory are scattered over the town and many of them liv'd at a great distance from the Chief, and the places where their offices are held, hopes that the President & Council will be pleased in lieu thereof to allow each member of the Board a Palanqueen, and likewise represent that we cannot but consider it as a hardship the JiL servants being allowed only twenty rupees p. month for house rent when they cannot be furnished with apartments from the Company and are obliged to hire houses for three or four times as much as

SURAT DIARIES. 391

they are allowed, and that we hope they will in this article put us on the same footing as our fellow servants at Bombay. It is likewise to be remarked that during the time of the late President, the Board in consequence of directions forwarded an account of oil allowed to the Covenant Servants here and which was then agreeable to their orders discontinued till we should get their further Commands ; but as we have never been favoured with any — Agreed, that we mention our hopes they will resume the consideration and permit of the same allowances being made for this article as were established ever since we had a Factory here.

R. GAMBIER. WILLIAM STRATTON. FRE^ DORRIEN, THOMAS DAY.

Sec? Ci BOURCHIER.

W. JAMES. FRED. DORRIEN.

Surat, Tuesday, 18* February 1777. At a Consultation, Present :

Thomas Day. Charles Bourchier. Daniel Seton.

William James. Frederick Dorrien.

James Morley.

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esquire, Chief, at Broach. Daniel Crokatt absent on leave.

Read & approved our last Consultation of the 13*^ instant.

M % Day lays before the Board translate of a letter he received yesterday from the French Consul as entered hereafter, and informs us that the day before Ally Novas Caun sent to acquaint him that the French had brought two boats from the ship at the Bar opposite to their Garden laden with cannon & a large number of shott, and that the French had obtained a Roca from the Nabob for landing the former but not the latter. That he, Mi. Day, had in consequence put an immediate stop to the landing of them and sent to the Nabob on the subject, who in reply acquainted him that Ml Briancourt, at the time that he requested his permission to land these articles, declared that M-L Boddam had given him permission which induced him to grant his for their being landed at the usual place for importing their other goods. M-L Day further acquaints us that he has since learnt they consist of ordnance of Q1^? brass field pieces with models for carriages and a large quantity of balls of that size. The Board entirely approve of Ml Days conduct in respect to this affair.

Ml. Day further informs us that he has wrote to Ml Boddam fully respecting this matter ; and as he should be desirous of obtaining the fullest information before a reply is sent to the French Consul, — Resolved to defer sending any till an answer is received to MJL Days advices, particularly as the disembarkation of the ordnance or from the Boats is stopt.

JA! MORLEY. D. SETON.

Translate letter from the French Consul to MJL Day : —

Sir, Surat, 17$ February 1777.

Have asked permission to land at the French Gardens 24 pieces of cannon and three or four thousand balls, have leave for the same of the Nabob, and now only yours is wanting, which I beg you will grant me, as I ask nothing but what is customary. When the " George " (French ship) was lost in the river all her Artillery (which was very considerable) was lodged in our Garden. The Swedes in 1758 or 1760 sold upwards of eighty pieces of Cannon to MJL Bocand,

392 BVRAT DIARIES.

which were lodged there likewise. The only reason of my begging this permission is to save the immense charges the transporting them to our factory in Town would cause. They are guns belonging to the cargoe of the ship " Swere ", for which I should have no ground enough in town to put them. I am obliged to sell them off as soon as possible to ballance accounts with the owners. If the security of my word and honor (which I pass on in these presents, and where- by I assure you that I have no other intentions than to have them quickly sold to settle the severall accounts) you should chuse another paper signed by me in whatever form you shall think proper I am ready to comply with it.

If the fever had not prevented my going abroad I should have been with you myself to ask you verbally what I now write, therefore I beg of you to grant me the requested permission.

I have the honour to be with the utmost sincerity,

Sir, Yours, &ct.

Surat, the 20* February 1777. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esquire, Chief, at Broach. Thomas Day. James Morley.

Charles Bourchier. Daniel Seton.

William James. Frederick Dorrien.

Daniel Crokatt absent with leave. Read and approved our last Consultation of the 18^> instant.

M £_ Day lays before us extract letter from M _E Boddam in reply to that he wrote him respecting the ordnance the French want to land here, as entered hereafter, which being taken into consideration, the Board entirely coincide in opinion with the Chief, that the French should not on any consideration be permitted to land any warlike stores whatever, and that the Nabobs conduct in granting permission, without having previously obtained the concurrence of the Chief or Senior Servant, is highly improper. Resolved therefore that a deputation wait on the Nabob and inform him that it is with surprize and concern that we find he has issued his Roca for permitting the French to land some ordnance at the usual place of importation with- out having first obtained leave from the Chief or Senior Servant, as it is so expressly contrary to the form that has been observed since the Hon**!6 Company have been in possession of the Castle and to their priveledges in that capacity. And as it appears to us equally wrong that any Foreign Nation should be allowed to import warlike stores, the Deputies are at the same time fully to represent it to the Nabob, and desire he will take the necessary steps to prevent it in future. The Board being further of opinion that the French being permitted to land or send off any goods from their Garden may under the denomination of necessaries afford them an opportunity of passing many articles of value greatly to the prejudice of the Hon^f Com- pany and the Government in their customs, agreed that the Nabob be desired to take particular care that no articles of trade or stores be landed or sent off from thence, and that for all necessaries the express permission of the Chief or Senior Servant be obtained.

The Phoorze Master then reporting that he is credibly informed that with the above mentioned stores there are 39 chests of small arms, the deputation are to desire that the Nabob will observe the same conduct with respect to them as the other warlike stores.

In consequence of the foregoing resolutions MJi Day is desired to inform Mons. Brian- court in reply, that as these stores have been stopt by the officers belonging to the Nabobs Government, who he supposes have very cogent & proper reasons for it, he must beg to be excused interfering in the business.

SUR AT DIARIES. 303

Four proposals being opened for contracting for the cotton ordered l>y the Governor and Council — Agreed to accept those of Nanaboy Bawa at rupees 872 per Candy, as they are the lowest of others. And the Assistant to the Treasure bordered to pay tin- necessary advance from the treasury.

Cs BOURCHIER.

JAS MORLEY.

D. SETON.

Surat, the 29l!i March 1777. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esqre , Chief, at Broach.

William James. Daniel Seton. Frederick Dorrien.

Thomas Day. Charles Bourchier. James Morley.

Daniel Crokatt absent with leave. Read and approved our last Consultation of the 20^ instant.

Mr Day also further informs us that Ally Novas Caun has frequently complained to him that the French from a flight of steps at their Gardens leading to the river side might undetected land or ship off large quantities of goods, as their boats are constantly going and coming from and to them ; and that on this account and their situation, which is facing down the river, so that they cannot be seen from the town, he cannot be answerable for the exe- cution of the duties of his station — which being duly considered, the Board observe that they are entirely ignorant that any permission was ever granted to Monsieur Briancourt for making these steps, and as they may afford many opportunities to the French to run quantities of goods to the prejudice of the Hon!;1? Company and Government in their customs, and Monsieur Brian- court had no right to erect them without leave, — Resolved that a deputation do wait on the Nabob, and after informing him of the President and Councils approbation of his conduct rela- tive to the military stores the French wanted to land here, desire he will take proper measures for the stair case, being pulled down and that space filled up.

Ci. BOVRCIIIER. js MORLEY.

D. SETON.

Surat, Friday, 4% April 1777. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esquire, at Broach.

William James. Frederick Dorrien.

Thomas Day. Charles Bourchier. James Morley.

Daniel Crokatt absent with leave. Daniel Seton, indisposed.

Read and approved our last Consultation of the 29^ ultimo.

Read translate of a letter from the French Consul as entered hereafter, which being con- sidered, agreed in reply that a letter be wrote him to the following purport. That we should be happy on all occasions to render him every service in our power with the Nalx>b, where it can with propriety be done, but that on the present occasion we must beg to be excused, as the proceeding of the Nabob is not an infringement of any privileges that he can claim belonging to his Royal Nation an.d. which he has ever enjoyed. That we are entirely ignorant that the Nabob' u 1255—99

394 SURAT DIARIES.

ever gave him any permission to build the stair case in question, but we understand frequent complaints have been made to the Government that this stair case has been made use of in a manner hurtful to the Nabobs revenues, who therefore undoubtedly has a right to make any regulations he may think necessary which do not infringe the right he is entitled to by his Phirmaund privileges. That we are very sorry to observe that the declaration of our Collector and the people in his department does not in the least correspond with his representation further than the leave of erecting the stables, and that we have great reason to think that had Ml Boddam given him that permission, he would not have neglected the established custom of the service of acquainting his Council with it.

Opened four proposals for farming out the Hon1;1? Companys Customs at Bownagar, when those of Nasservanji Bomanji being the highest, R8 10125, they are accepted, and those of Bocundass Mahondass for Mo wah being R8 1126, the former being R8 6600 and latter 626 more than last years.

Nanabhoy Bisa, the Contractor for the Honb^? Companys cotton, having failed in his contract, Is called before us and asked the reason of his noncompliance, who informing us that he cannot possibly deliver it before the next springs, owing he says to the late troubles in that country, and those now subsisting between Futty Sing and Govin Rao, offers, on account of the risque of sending it to Bombay being greater at the time it will be in his power, to deliver it to the HonM? Company at Bombay free of all extraordinary charges, which being considered, the Warehouse -keeper is ordered to enquire whether any is to be purchased, and in such case he is to buy it for the Hon1?1? Company, charging Nanabhoy with the amount. But should his enquiries prove ineffectual, agreed to accept the contractors proposals.

Ci BOURCHIER. JA« MORLEY. D. SETON.

Letter from the French Consul : — Gentlemen,

The Nabob has sent his Chopdar to me to desire that I would take away the wooden stairs that serve as a descent to the river at the French Gardens, where all the foundation is washed, away. This said stair case, which is not supported by any masonry, is a very weak descent, in- capable of supporting bales, either embarking or disembarking, so that it is not intended for these purposes, but solely for our convenience, and to be able to enjoy the neighbourhood of the water, without being exposed to falls that the continual washing away of the foundation causes us to dread. This is, Gentlemen, the ladder or stair case that all people of good sense would be ashamed to desire us to throw down, if they had nothing in view but the convenience of their neighbours or friends and which the Nabob chuses to destroy to day ; but tho' he should even forget that the convenience of life should permit people to be reasonable, yet he is bound by the permission he has given me himself publickly.

In September last the Nabob sent to seize in my Garden all the carpenters that worked there, to stop a work I intended to build. I instantly went to MJL Boddam and complained of this violence, explaining to his satisfaction that what I was building could give no umbrage, since one of the two works was a stable for horses, and the other a weak wooden stair case for my own convenience and that of my family. On my representations Mj; Boddam obliged the Nabob to send me back all my workmen, and for the violences the Nabob made in my Garden, sent me' excuses. The Nabob, Gentlemen, jointly with Mil Boddam, sent experienced men to examine the work I had begun, even Ml_ Bourchiers people came there. All being examined by Ml. Boddams, l£| Bourchiers, and the Nabobs people, permission was given me in an authentic manner to finish those two works, with an express prohibition not to undertake any

SURA T DIARIES. 305

other, and in consequence the Nabob sent all the carjKmters to finish my two works. You see now, Gentlemen, that it is full six months since these two works were finished. There has been no other attempted in my Garden. I beseech you then to grant me your mediation in this affair, and to make the Nabob desist from this affronting injury he is willing to do me ; both of which are contrary to the right of Nations. Your workmen, or at least M-L Boddams workmen, having accompanied those of the Nabob, and the work being finished after their report in consequence of your and the Nabobs permission, I now demand the fulfilling of your word, or if you chuse a second review, and you will see I have not surpassed my permission. I have rather reason to believe that you will yourselves send to the Nabob to desire he will desist from this violence, and that every thing in this .affair is according to my right, and the good intelligence that subsists between your Royal Nation and ours makes me hope your assist- ance in my present dispute with the Nabob.

I have the honor to be with the greatest attention, &c. &c,

Sural, 3dr April 1777. ANQUETIL.

Wrote the French Consul as follows : — Sir,

We beg leave to assure you, in reply to your letter of the 3i_, that we should be happy on all occasions to render you every service in our power with the Nabob when we can apply to him with propriety. In the present case we must request you will excuse us, as the Nabobs conduct is not an infringement of any privileges you can claim belonging to your Royal Nation, or which you have ever enjoyed. We are entirely ignorant that the Nabob ever gave you any permission to build the stair case in question, but we understand frequent complaints have been made to the Government that this stair case has been made use of in a manner hurt- full to the Nabobs revenues, who therefore certainly has an undoubted right to make any regulations he may think necessary which do not infringe the rights you are entitled to by your Phirmaund privileges.

It gives us concern that we are under the necessity of observing to you that the declara- tion of our Collector and his people in that Department does not correspond with your represen- tation further than the leave of erecting the stables, and we have great reason to think that had VLL Boddam given you that permission, he could not have neglected the established custom of informing us of it.

We have the honor, &£L

MJL William Bolts landed at the French Gardens this evening and from thence addressed the following letter to the Chief : — Sir,

I have the honor to inform you of the safe arrival in this road of the Imperial Austrian ship " Guiseppe and Teresa ", under my command as Lieu**- Colonel in the service of Her Impe- rial Majesty the Empress Queen of Hungary &°± &™. I am much in want of refreshments and assistance, as well on account of an accident which happened to us at Delagoa, as on account of several of my officers and crew, who are dangerously ill ; and being acquainted with the nature of the connection subsisting between the English and the Mogul Government at this Port and city of Surat, I claim your assistance in those matters which the laws of hospitality and of nations dictate and which the friendly connections subsisting between the Court of Vienna and of Great Britain give me a right to expect, until I can have the honor of paying

396 SUE AT DIARIES.

my respects to you personally, and be allowed a house in town. I am at MoE!E de Briancourts, who has very hospitably given me a lodging on seeing my distress.

I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect and consideration,

Your &°t &c», At the French Gardens near Surat, 6% September 1777. WILLIAM BOLTS,

Lieu^l Col. in the service of Her Imperial Majesty.

Surat, Sunday, 7± September 1777. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esquire, Chief. ' Thomas Day. Daniel Crokatt.

James Morley. William James.

Frederick Dorrien. Mil Charles Bourchier, indisposed. MJL Daniel Seton, absent with leave.

Read and approved our last Consultation of yesterdays date.

The Chief then informs us that he summoned this meeting to lay before us a letter he received last night from LieulL Colonel William Bolts, Commander of the Austrian ship that anchored at this Bar the 5^ in the evening from Delagoa, proposing in obediance to the HonM? Companys commands received a few days ago, to acquaint him in reply that as this is the Moguls City, and under the government of a Nabob, that he must entirely refer to him for any assistance he may be in want of, which the Board agree to.

The Commands of the Honye the Court of Directors on this subject being then referred to, and seriously considered, we observe that they recommend to us to do all in our power to prevent these adventurers from meeting with any success in their enterprise should they come to, or near any of their settlements, and to use at the same time every influence we have with the Country Government for this effect. It is therefore agreed to send to the Nabob to desire he will take effectual measures to prevent his subjects from having any commercial or othtT intercourse with him ; and that we make not the least doubt but that he will chearfully comply with this request, considering the very essential favors he has always received from the Hon1^? Company, and particularly the recent mark they have shewn him of their desire to oblige him : and the Chief is desired to take the proper means to prevent any such intercourse from those under the English protection.

In the 35^ paragraph of their said orders upon this subject the Court Of Directors art- pleased to direct that should any of the people on board be English subjects, that they be arrested and sent to England, which being considered, we are of opinion that this being a Moguls City and neutral Port it would not be justifiable. But resolved, that we request our superiors sentiments thereon, and their full orders how to act in respect to the claims M £ Bolts makes to the Chief in his letter.

R. H. BODDAM. GL BOURCHIER. JAi MORLEY. DANIEL CROKATT.

; Surat, 19%. October 1777.

Copy translate of a letter from MTr Anquetil to the Hon^Jf the Governor and Council ; — Gentlemen, ..- -•

The public faith violated with impunity is the source of the greatest disorders in the most civilized nations. ....-., • . .

SURAT DIARIES. 397

When an operation of any kind whatsoever is done with an unanimous consent, ami that one of the parties after wards behave arbitrarily contrary to their promise, what dependanee can be placed on their consent the most cemented, the weak in spit.- of his innocence becomes the victim of the strong. This, Gentlemen, is just the case in which I fin<l myself. I make you the Judges. This is the fact.

In September last I constructed a stair ease of wood to give us a commodious discent to the river side from the bank of the French Gardens. The bank was broke all the way and the earth continually giving way under the feet. I thought I could procure to my wife and family and all honest people this convenience to discendto the riverside, without the danger of falling with the earth and wounding themselves. It did not appear to me necessary to ask permission for the same, having determined to construct it of wood only and not of masonry.

I had the work then set about and at the same time erected entirely of wood and simple bamboos a stable and a coach house in a retired part of the French Gardens. The two works half finished, the Nabob sent one morning at nine o'clock to take all my carpenters, half of whom worked on the stair case and the others on the stable and coach-house. This violence of the Nabob appeared to me the more improper, as it was not at all his jurisdiction to permit it and much less to hinder any construction in the French Garden which he found was situated on the river side, this right appertaining only to the Governor of the Castle as Admiral of the Moguls Fleet.

I immediately went to M.r Boddam & bitterly complained to him of the Nabobs violence, & desired him to use his authority to get me my carpenters again, which he had the goodness to do that instant, and at the same time asked me what it was I had begun to build. I explained it to him very clearly. He told me he would send his people to inspect the whole and that after- wards according to their report I might continue the work. In effect Mi" Boddam after dinner sent expert workmen of MJ Bourchiers and the Nabobs people, who attentively examin- ed the two works commenced, the stair case and the coach house. Having well verified the whole and considered that these weak constructions were nothing but wood and of no consequence to the Castle, they each of them made their report to their masters ; and the next morning the orders of the English Chief with those of the Nabob for the whole that had been begun, the stair case and stables, was given me, but with prohibition not to make any new works without express permission. I engaged to this subject my word of honor, and I had the works con- tinued. The utensils of my carpenters having been seized and deposited with the Nabob, M I Boddam on my reclamation had them presently restored to me, and his Chopdar and that of the Nabob put my workmen again to their business.

Was there ever a more authentic permission given, Gentlemen ? If that which I caused to be built after so juridical an examination and so many people employed to do it, had been able to give the least umbrage, must not a direct hindrance to continue the work have followed either one or the other of these two constructions ? But no. These two works did not occasion the least reflection, the whole from their nature was entirely indifferent to the Moguls Admiral, who alone has a right to hinder the continuation. As all liberty had been given me for to go on again with them, it follows that I acted under the public faith. I am not then the least to blame. Observe now, Gentlemen, if those who have violated this pubUc faith, in causing my stair case to be broken down, constructed according to the rights of people, are in the state of being able to defend solidly their unjust proceedings on my account.

Before I describe to you, Gentlemen, the unworthy manner with which M* Day conducted himself towards me, Chief for the time in absence of M/r Boddam then at Broach, it is necessary

b 1255—100

398 SUBAT DIARIES.

to inform you how I have acted during 18 years that I am here, relative to great repairs and buildings made in the French Gardens.

The bank being situated close to the river, the Castle has the right of inspection over all the buildings that are made there. They cannot then erect any of consequence without per- mission from the Governor of the Castle, who only enjoys this privelege as Admiral of the Moguls Fleet. The Nabob of the City ought not to have any pretensions to visit there. In 1 754 Mons r Leverner my predecessor, for to remedy the damage the freshes every year made to the French Gardens, drove strong pieces of wood in form of a wall to stop the continual washing away of the earth. As this work of wood was considerable, we asked permission for it, not of the Nabob, but of the Governor of the Castle, who was Siad Amelkhan, and he made no difficulty to grant it. In 1760 the great House constructed at the Garden of wood had been very much damaged when you possessed yourselves of Surat Castle. The French Gardens were at that time the theatre of the war. I was obliged to make it up and repair it again. This repair wanted a work of masonry even with the ground and some pillars also. Permission to carry on this work was necessary. I did not ask it of the Nabob, but the Governor of the Castle. Accordingly, I spoke of it to M r. Price, English Chief. He came himself and examined it on the spot, and seeing my demand was just and the repair necessary, he willingly gave me leave to make it. In 1774 I caused to be built with wood a Belvidere on the bank of the French Gardens, the place that projects most in the river, as well for to enjoy the fine prospect of that situation, as for the refreshing air it afforded. It being nothing but a slight construction of wood, I had not asked permission for it, but MjF Gambier sent to me, not by the Nabobs people, but by his own servant, to ask what I was going to build, and desired me at the same time to stop this work till we had conversed on the subject. I went to see him the next day, and made it appear that the little shed Bungalo I was erecting could not be of any consequence. M r7 Gambier knowing how to attend with ease to what is natural and reasonable for him to grant made no difficulty in permitting me to continue the work. In 1775 my health obliged me to continue in the Garden, when my business did not oblige me to be in the City. The old house repaired in 1760 threatened ruin. I found myself obliged to have some new build- ings. I asked them by letter, not to the Nabob, but the English Council, to build a Hall, a Cabinet, a Dispense, & a Cook-room. As my intention at this time was to have strong build- ings, it appeared to me necessary to construct them of brick and chinain. I in that manner asked permission by a letter to the English, and also in order not to give any umbrage, promised to make the walls of no more thickness than 5 inches. My request was well received and granted me according to the proportions I had designed. M 1 Gambier was still Chief, who knew how to join the duties of his station with his desire of living in good harmony with all strangers ; not being a man ready to take alarm at a Bagatelle, it gave him pleasure to procure me that satisfaction.

This digression, Gentlemen, rather long on the French buildings, is not at all improper here ; it serves to prove to you that the Nabob has not any right of inspection on the works at the French Garden, and this Ml Hay should have known if he had been acquainted with the decorum due to his station & the rights of his nation : it is what no man in place should be ignorant of. He should not have employed a strong force to break into a thousand pieces that which for six months before in the eyes of honest people appeared nothing but a simple convenience for the Gentlemen and Ladies who wanted to go from the bank of the French Gardens (which is all the way steep) to the river side. Ml Day becoming Chief by Mr Boddams absence, this stair case all of a sudden changed its nation. It is a Redoubt in his eyes or at least a place of cosenage which he must misuse.

SUli. IT IH A HIES. 399

How is it, Gentlemen, that to destroy my stair case he addressed himself to the Nabob for this famous execution/ 1 was not a little surprized to receive at 8 o'clock in the morning of

the . . . instant a message from the Nabob telling me to pull down my stair ease. The servant who brought me this message was the same who six mouths pa.-t came to me with the Nabobs permission 1o finish this stair ease. 1 enquired of him what reason his master bad thus to return from bis own orders and those of M ' BoddamS. He replied he knew not, that it w true that be himself about six months before brought me permission from the Nabob to finish them, but that his master this morning gave him orders to base them broke down if I would

not cause it to be done by my people. That he had in consequence brought with him everj thing for this business, but that nevertheless he would delay it for ten hours if I would writ-- to the Nabob, above all to Ml Day, who was continually sending to his master for the execution of the business. I found the servant more human than his master. His innocence afforded me time to look out for a remedy to the evil. I immediately sent an Arzy to the Nabob, recapitu- lating to him in brief that I had every necessary permission for erecting the stair case— his own. That every thing being proper on my side, I was very much surprized at his conduct towards me. At last I requested of him to wait the arrival of Ml lioddam, who could not he eight days longer before he returned from Broach, and in consequence to recall his people.

The Nabob, sensible of the ignominious part they obliged him to act, would have been very willing to revoke his order for destruction, but he could not do it of himself. He waited to see the effect of my letter to Mr Day. to whom and the Council I wrote at the same time as the Nabob. I send you a copy of it, Gentlemen. The original could not bend the hard and imperious character of MjE Day. lie delayed giving any answer till after dinner next day.

My servant had properly represented to him that the Nabobs people waited only his favour- able answer to leave the Garden — that otherwise the stair case was to he pulled down from which, exclusive of the affront, a considerable loss would result to the nation, the stair c being so placed as to serve for a support to the Bungalo built by M I Gambiers permission. That the holes which must he made to take up the timbers which supported the steps of tin- stair case would endanger that part of the French Garden, that the Bungalo not having any longer that support would fall off itself in the river the first rainy season, thai a small order from him to the Nabob would suffice to hinder this destruction. That besides I bad addressed him and the Council to desire them to he mediators in this affair. That a new examination made of the whole they would be always aide properly to destroy this stair case, for the erecting of which I had the permission of Ml Boddam, Moguls Admiral, as also that of the Nabob, if the media' found out the mistake of the first examination. Ml Day, deaf to reason, inflexible to the representations of my servant, knew so little of the law of nations which I claimed, that to give the prerogatives which lie had abandoned to the Nabob, replied at last rudely that they would reply immediately to my letter; that with respect to the staircase the Nabob was master of that, he would not interfere at all in his business.

Can there, Gentlemen, be a greater forgetfulness of himself or rather of the honb1.? place he held per interim ? for was I in the wrong or right, M_r, Day should have offered me his mediation the moment I asked it of him. I do not pretend to attack him on the shameful] manner that he abandoned to the Nabob the privileges of the Admiral of the Mogul, which post was entrusted to him. This regards you, Gentlemen, but I claim rights to the mediation which I demanded of him for to put an immediate stop to the unjust vexation of the Nabob, and he owed me this mediation.

In 1760, Ml Spencer, then English Chief of this City, having made the conquest of Surat Castle, by letter engaged to all the European nations at Surat to maintain their privileges from

400 SURAT DIARIES.

the oppression of the Nabob and to act as mediators in all their differences with him. Such were the intentions of the English nation in taking from the Siddee the Castle, as well as that of putting all matters in proper order. I had the honor, Gentlemen, at that time to be Chief of the French Nation at this place. I sincerely thanked Mi; Spencer for his good disposition, which equally affected our nation with the others. From that, Gentlemen, I had a right then to beg the mediation of the English Council to stop the Nabobs violence. M.r Day refused it to me at the time he ought to have offered it to me, as the workmen had already their axes lifted to destroy my stair case. Is this ignorance ? Is this malice ? The one is as prejudicial to me as the other, since I have received on the part of the Nabob the affront and damage which the destruction of the stair case brings with it, and from which his mediation should have preserved me.

The Nabob, finding with regret that my letter and representation had not produced any good effect, and receiving from Ml Day reproaches for his negligence in executing his orders, sent word to his people to fulfill the orders he had given them without further delay. These carpenters who had been in the French Gardens from nine o'clock, at one after noon began their work, and in two days the stair case was in a thousand pieces, but the earth was a little spared.

At the end of three days ML. Day thought proper to come to the back of the French Gardens with all the people of his gang to enjoy the agreeable sight of the blow he had so well struck. He found that the Nabob had not destroyed it so fully as he had ordered. Indeed, there remained about three or four large pieces of wood which served for a security to the stair case, and which from their having been drove a great depth they could not take out. Without doubt in acknowledgement for the politeness I have ever shown him (it was only eight days before that he had supped with me), on the instant he sent to the Nabob, threatening him with his anger if in 24 hours there remained the least vestige of the stair case at the French Gardens, and told him he ought to punish the workmen for only having half done their business. The next day he had to praise the obedience of the Nabob, and it is certain, Gentlemen, that the bank is so much overthrown, that the Bungalo built on it will, with the first heavy rains, share the fate of the stair case, if you do not shortly give orders for the rebuilding of it.

The day after this brilliant expedition, I received from your Council at Surat a letter in answer to mine of the preceding day. They had either received their lesson from or had adopted the spirit of ML Day, who without doubt dictated it, for it is vague in all its points and founded on reasons entirely false, which it is very easy to prove.

If it was true, as these Gentlemen declare in the beginning of their letter, " that they should be very happy to render me service with the Nabob," they would previously have granted me their mediation. It is proved that they ought to have granted it to me. They did not do it at all. They wrongfully then glory in being willing to render me service with the Nabob which was not their design. These Gentlemen " beg me to excuse them if they cannot do it on this occasion," because (add they) " the conduct of the Nabob is not an infringement of privileges that I could claim." How do these Gentlemen know it ? They have not heard the party suffering : have they been able to decide the question without attending to the reasons of each party ? The Nabob then can misuse an innocent, and his conduct founded on frivolous reasons will become just the moment he shall have condemned him ; but if those whose duty it is to protect this innocent attend to his reasons, he shall not then be sacrificed at all, and this would nave been the case had these Gentlemen of Council hearkened to both parties.

As mediators they should have done so, and I should then have proved to them that there never was a greater violation of the rights of people. In effect I had obtained permission to

8VRAT MARIKS. 401

cause to be rebuilt a staircase tbat I had caused to be constructed. According to this very permission I caused this work to be finished. It was thus under the public faith I made these expenses. And at the end of six months this very staircase which had been erected with the approbation necessary, caprice, to say nothing more, caused it to be pulled down under the pretence of reasons fallacious and without foundation. And these Gentlemen pretend to say that I have not, in this unjust work, to claim the rights of people, which is the noblest privelege of governed nations. According to them "the staircase is a privelege I never possessed." They had it in their power to say as much of some new walks I had lain out in the French Gardens. Permit me, Gentlemen, to stop short of this review of my priveleges. Pity the assertion. But your Council go on, "We are ignorant that the Nabob ever gave you permission to build the staircase." Is it my fault that these gentlemen are ignorant of it ? It is not the less true, tho' they would have known it if they had enquired. And if they had, as I desired them, acted as mediators, this information would not have been wanting here. Is it for me to pay for the ignorance of the English Council in this matter ? The least enquiry on their part would have instructed them of that which they ought to have known. It is in effect to have condemned me and not to have restrained in the least the violence of the Nalwb, at the time I claimed their mediation, when the desire, as they pompously say at the beginning of their letter, to render me a service, made it their duty to grant it me. 1 am sorry to see, Gentlemen, that your Council at Surat can be so inconsiderate in their juridical proceedings. " They are ignorant that the Nabob had given permission for the staircase." Whether they were or not, what reason could they have without any other information to reject the affirmative which is in my favor, and adopt the negative that is against me ? " But we have heard," continues the letter, " that there has very often been complaints caused to the Government that the staircase had been prejudicial to the revenues of the Nabob." These Gentlemen have heard it said. I have also heard say that the Nabob having never had any complaints against me, could not give ear to this calumny for want of proof. Always very exact on my side on this article I have made no account of these idle words. But your Council of Surat find in these hearsays a sufficient reason to approve the destruction of the staircase. This method of judging, however different from that hereafter mentioned, is as erroneous as them. These Gentlemen here adopt the affirmation that is against me, and reject the negative, which is for me, altho' they have not any reason to accept the one sooner than the other. After all they were ignorant that the Nabob had given me his permission. If ignorint, it was out of their power to decide either one way or the other. The examination which they should scrupu- lously have made would have dissipated their ignorance, and then their decision for or against my cause would have been founded on truth. They had heard say that the stair case had occasioned a fraud of the customs. If they only heard so, they should not then have decided against me as if well assured of the prevarication, nor should they, without having first strictly examined whether this hearsay was well founded on truth or not, have approved of the vexation of the Nabob.

If the good will which they so willingly express at the beginning of their letter to render me every service with the Nabob had been real, they should then have become mediators of this difference ; but really how could they be so in this business, since it is fully proved that the Nabob had not any right to interfere in it, and that he would not have broken down my stair- case but by the repeated and express orders he had from ML Day, whose conduct shews he had sworn the destruction of it.

These Gentlemen in their letter proceed to say, " they are sorry to acquaint me their Collector & the people in his department were informed only of the erecting of the horse stables, » 1255—101

402 SURAT DIARIES.

and not that of the staircase." I also am sorry on my part, Gentlemen, to observe to you that either ML Bourchier the Collector has forgot that permission was granted me for the staircase, or that his people have not been faithfull in their report, or that he has not properly attended to them. It was in my presence that this permission was granted me. The people of the Nabob and those of Ml. Bourchier the Collector, spoke to me myself, and apprehensive that it should appear to the workmen that they were set about this work by me, these people belonging to the Government, as well as those belonging to the Castle and the Nabob, assured them in my presence, that they might without any fear work as well on the stair case as stables that were to be erected, but that they must not in future undertake any new work without the express permission of their master. If the English Council had been the mediators they ought, they would have suspended the execution made by the Nabob until a further examination made by Ml_ Bourchier the Collector had cleared it up, and the staircase then would not have been destroyed.

These Gentlemen finish their letter in pretending that ML Boddam, from whom I alleged permission was obtained jointly with that of the Nabob, " would not have failed to have acquaint- ed them with it according to the established custom, if he had given it." It is very true that if ML Boddam had seen in this staircase an affair of state, he would either have refused his permission, or registered it, if he had given it ; but a man of sense like him, could he ever imagine that a simple staircase constructed of wood, made only for the convenience of a family, could during his absence be a toothpick for a whole Council whom he ought not to suppose pusillanimous but clear, just, and prudent.

Since these Gentlemen avow that ML Boddam had never spoke to them, and since I had wrote them that I had his permission at the same time as the Nabob, had they no method by which they could inform themselves whether it was so or not ? Ml Boddam was only at Broach. Why then did they not write to him to have more certain information of the matter ? Supposing they had received an answer from ME. Boddam agreeable to their wishes, it would have retarded for twenty -four hours only the pleasure they promised themselves from the sudden execution of the Nabob. Since these Gentlemen chose not to become mediators between me and the Nabob, nor to write to ML Boddam to give them information of the affair, it is as clear as the day that they were determined to destroy my staircase. For what reason ? I am ignorant of it, but it is certain they chose to put this affront upon the nation & occasioned all the damage already done, what may follow, and the chagrin I have suffered. Their hurry to push on the Nabob, tho' Mr Boddam was every day expected, alone suffices to demonstrate their bad intentions, and the part they took to carry it into execution.

If they had been mediators, if they had ordered an examination, if they had wrote to ML. Boddam of their injurious conduct to me, if they had waited about this staircase erected in his time and with his permission, how could ML Day then have seized the opportunity to illustrate his short and hard reign by this famous coup-de-grace, which, however pitiful in the eyes of honest people, imposed greatly on the populace of Surat.

As soon as the Committee arrived from Broach, I waited on MessL* Carnac and Ramsay. I gave them a circumstantial detail of all this matter. These Gentlemen having had the complaisance to come to the French Gardens, went to see the whole themselves, and seeing that the bank of the French Gardens was liable to a continual fall of the earth, they agreed with me that a staircase was necessary, and that it was very wrong to break down that which they then saw in a thousand pieces that had been constructed with permission.

SURAT DIARIES. IOt

It will be too long, Gentlemen, to relate to you every thing that has l>een said in regard to this staircase by the honest people of Surat. My letter is, to say truth, an analysis of their discourse. I have only to answer to two objections. These I have amply discussed with Ml. Carnac, and found his sentiments entirely consonant to mine throughout.

The first objection is, for what reason the descent of the stair case is in the same direction ;us the current of the river. This position conceals it from a view of the town. Would it not have been possible, or even better, to have turned it the contrary way ? Whatever passed would then have been seen from the town. Would the staircase have suffered by it? and would it not have been the same thing for those who go up and down it ?

The second objection regards the customs. Is it not easy by this staircase to defraud the Custom House ? In taking it entirely away, is it not a sure method to hinder this prevarication ?

This, Gentlemen, is the answer to the first, objection. There were two reasons which obliged me to construct the stair case in such a manner that the descent followed the same direction as the current of the river. The first is that in this position the staircase serves as a support to the small building named Belvidere, erected on the top of the ground, in which the place for the said staircase is cut. As the ground is very high, and forms an advanced post in the river, the waves beat against and ruin this part more than any other. The Belvidere, constructed on the bank, is only in security so long as the staircase serves it as a safe guard. But, say they, how would it have subsisted if the staircase had not been placed there at all ? It was supported before by earth which has been removed on account of the excavation, which it was necessary to make to place the staircase. Could not this excavation, they object, have been made the contrary way ? The staircase would have been of the same service as a support to the Belvidere ? The thing was not possible, and this is the second reason which determined that position of the staircase preferably to every other.

If the stair case had been placed the contrary way, besides the quantity of earth which it would have been necessary to cut and consequently to lose, it would not have remained above a twelve month, and have been a great expense. This position would have been continually exposed to the current of the river. The situation of the ground is such, that in the time of high water the force of the current attacks with violence the whole face of this side of the French Gardens. The freshes are very frequent, and the current then, which is very impetuous, takes in flank all that part of the ground, and passes the Garden in its return in an acute angle to the middle of the river, and then takes its ordinary course. The strongest carpenter's work in this last demanded position never would have been able to resist its impetuosity. The first freshes would have carried my staircase to the sea. The simple inspection of the French Garden proves the solidity of my observations. This is it what I have remarked to ML Carnac. To demonstrate by an example which cannot be rejected, and which proves that I could not have placed my staircase better, is, that yours, Gentlemen, which is next to mine in the English Garden, tho' of masonry, is placed the same way as that which I have made of timber. It is clear then that no other position could have been given it. This last even puts it so much in security that it was found on the going off of the waters not to have suffered any damage, tho' built simply of wood. Thus it is not indifferent as the objection supposes, whether the staircase is turned one way or the other, because in that which I had given it, there has resulted an assured safety both to the stair case and the Belvidere which it supports, and that in every other position, even that of the contrary way, it would have been broken down on the first fresh. As to what is said that on the stair case being turned the other way, they would have been able to see from the town whatever passed on it, the answer to the second objection shews how frivolous this last observation is.

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Fraud, a term which ought never through recrimination be used without proof is, Gentle- men, that which gives room to the second objection, which follows. By this staircase, is it not easy to defraud the Nabob of his right ? In taking it away shall we not suppress in part the means of defrauding ? No assuredly ; whether this staircase subsists or not, it is entirely a stranger to fraud.

I have been in Surat 18 years, and never has there been any complaint made to me of fraud committed in the French Garden, and particularly in the last six months, when there was ho less than four French vessels at Surat, altho' the staircase was then hid from the view of the town. I have always been too exact in the duties of my place to permit any prevarication of that kind. My residence even in the French Garden is a double surety for the retribution of the Nabobs duties. There has never arrived any French ship, neither have I ever dispatch- ed any that I have not anticipated the Nabob ; he has then sent his people to examine the chests and goods. As to the boats of merchandize none has ever touched, that there has not been one of the Governments people aboard, and when it happens that the biscuit baked in the French Garden, and the cattle for provisions are ready for the road, I have always had the precaution to demand of the Nabob his people to assist at the embarkation, and to be witnesses of what is sent on board, being unwilling to have anything to reproach myself with on this head. The Nabob and AH Novas Caun, Second of the town, can depose in favor of this truth that I advance.

It was then pure prejudice only, Gentlemen, that has made ML Day, during the absence of Mr- Boddam, cause to be examined at the gate of the town even carts of dung that were Coming to my Garden. Many of them have been rummaged from top to bottom. This singular search could not be very agreeable to the people employed in it ; but ML Day has need of proofs of trespass to strike the blow he meditated. Where could he go to seek them ? It is very disagreeable for him, and very consoling for me, that my being so rigid on this article has rendered all his researches of no effect.

But tho' I am rigid in respect to the duties of the Custom House, I have been many times troubled in my service in this regard by some of your Gentlemen themselves, the French knowing my exactness, & fearing it, have found, more than one time, occasion to deceive it ; several of them having contrived in concert with some of your nation to send English boats loaded with merchandize, and made them clandestinely enter the town. The Nabob has often made his complaints to me. If the French only had been in fault, he should have had prompt satisfaction ; but having to do with a much stronger party, neither he nor I have been able to find a remedy for this abuse. What makes me easy on this head is that under the equitable administration of ML. Boddam this malversation never had place. I have then, Gentlemen, matter for recrimination, if I was willing to name the persons concerned, but that is not in my character. My letter, or to speak more properly, my memorial is only to prove to you that I had a right to construct a staircase, and that in pulling it down they have done me a signal affront and considerable damage of which I demand reparation. But to return.

In taking the staircase entirely away, is it not the means to prevent fraud ? This is the second part of the second objection. A person need not be a great connoisseur to say boldly whe- ther the staircase exists or does not exist have not the defrauders a thousand ways of coming to their end ? If it does exist, would they seek the place the most public, and where the search is almost continual, either on the part of the Nabob or on mine. In place of an illicit gain which they seek to procure themselves, would it not be in gaiety of heart to expose all their

SURAT DIARIES. 405

merchandize to seizure ? Qui male agit odit lucem : (He who does evil hates the light.) If the staircase does not exist, it is for them the same thing ; have they not the whole length of the river, particularly from Omrah, where they may land in the night and after having taken their measures properly, enter the town without heing perceived ? It is then absurd to rndravour to make people believe that the staircase was favorable to fraud, and to say that there had been complaint made by the Nabob that the said staircase was prejudicial to his customs. This last never complained to me. Such an accusation ought not to be produced if it cannot be supported by authentic proofs.

How badly advised are they when they say that the staircase made fraud easy, because I secretly encouraged that malversation. I do myself the justice to believe, Gentlemen, that such a thought of me never yet entered into any reasonable head. The place of French Chief which I have filled here during 12 years in the name of the India Company, the Post Consul of France at Surat with which it has pleased his most Christian Majesty to honour me 4 years ago : my irreproachable conduct in this city, which I can prove such by different letters which I have of the several Nabobs of Surat, of the strange nations established there, particularly yours, Gentlemen, are vouchers for me for not being even suspected of this contravention. I know they have held some discourse, both here and at Bombay, on this affair entirely destitute of good sense, but as it came from people of too little consequence to be taken notice of, I have despised, and still do despise these calumniators, being well persuaded that my reputa- tion does not suffer the least hurt with men of honour, who are those alone whose esteem and approbation I am ambitious of. It is not the same with the destruction of the staircase. I have made it at the expence of the King. Having constructed it with all the permissions requisite, it was putting a signal affront on the nation to make it be pulled down contrary to the rights of mankind, and occasioning a great prejudice to it, if it is not speedily re-established.

You will find, Gentlemen, this letter very long, but look upon it as a memorial or factum, and pay attention to the nature of the cause. It regards an affront put on the French nation and a considerable damage which will have consequences, if you are not well enough informed by me of the facts, so as to give me satisfaction. It is necessary for me then to enter into the most minute detail, without which I should have always to reproach myself with having left you ignorant of something to the advantage of my cause ; consider, besides, against whom I have to plead ; against persons who by their high degree and their office appear incapable of committing faults in their service — it is your Council of this city ; it is the Nabob. I have then against me in this affair the whole Government of Surat. I ought not then to forget any circumstance to prove to you my irreproachable conduct in the construction of this staircase, the iniquitous pro- ceedings of your Council and of the Nabob with regard to me in its destruction, the affront and the detriment which results from it to the French nation, and in fine my right to the reparation which ought to be as authentic as the act of destruction was public.

Furthermore, Ml. Day is at Bombay. He is the author of all this disorder. He will not fail to report to you a thousand untruths ; untruths appear as facts when one is not well informed. To make the most of the distrust he has on my account, and his own capacity, he will, without doubt, inform you of guns, which I had the permission of the Nabob to land, and which he made him revoke and obliged the said Nabob to send me a contrary order. This is his first valorous exploit against me during his short administration. Not being able to obtain from him the permission I demanded by my letter, a copy of which accompanies this, I sent back the said guns to Mahe ; but this affair, which is also a trespass against our priveleges, is of a nature to be palliated, arms being always in places, even the most pacific, a subject of differences

B 1255—102-*-

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and quarrel, I have made at the time my report of it to the Minister, and I do not speak of it now, Gentlemen, but to inform you plainly of this transaction, which ML Day will deliver to you with emphasis. It is reported here that I had the secret permission of ML Boddam to land these guns. I never spoke to him about them, as when these arms entered the river, Ml Boddam was at Broach. If I had had his permission, why should I have asked it of ML. Day ? As to the rest, had ML. Boddam granted it, he would have done nothing then, but allowed the French nation at Surat to have enjoyed all their privileges. I have never demanded of him this permission, nor have I even ever spoke of these guns to him, and he on his side has never opened his mouth to me about them. Now, Gentlemen, as all facts are disguised by people who have an interest to conceal the truth, it is for you to discover your way through all, as I have let no circumstance escape relative to the destruction of my staircase, in order that you may be the better able to judge of my right, and to order the reparation which is due to me.

I have amply demonstrated in my memorial, Gentlemen, that the public faith has been violated by the destruction of this staircase, because all permissions lor completing it had been authenticly given ; that the rights of mankind had been sacrificed to the caprice of ML Day ; that the Nabob had no right to do me this violence, the construction of French buildings not being under his jurisdiction, but alone under the Governor of the Castle, as Admiral of the Mogul, a prerogative which Ml Day, ignorant of his duty in this point, has abandoned to the Nabob to act against me with rigour ; that the English Council ought to have put a stop to the Nabobs oppression as mediator, as I prayed them to do ; that the letter of the said English Council which supports the iniquitous procedure of the Nabob, with respect to me, is deceitf ull and illusory in all its points ; that the situation of the French Garden, and the frequent freshes in the river demanded the staircase to be constructed in the place where I had put it ; that every other position was very expensive and even impracticable ; that the objections drawn from the defrauding the customs were founded on reasons futile and frivolous ; and that, in fine, my being so rigid to fulfill my duty, and an experience at Surat of 18 years in the service rendered all prevarication of that kind impossible under my management. You have seen also the strong reasons which have obliged me to be prolix, much against my inclination, the nature of my cause requiring all the details which this letter or rather this memorial contains.

Because it is more than proved that I am not in fault in constructing this staircase, which has not been finished but on the public faith, and which has been destroyed and broke in a thousand pieces, contrary to the rights of mankind ; nothing remains for me then, Gentlemen, than to pray you to do me justice in ordering this staircase to be immediately reconstructed by those who have so unworthily broke it down, and at their expence. To judge of its form you will find all the dimensions annexed to this letter. I demand of you this justice in the name of the French Nation, affronted by this act of destruction. Your knowledge and your equity, Gentle- men, are sure warrants to me for obtaining it of you ; and I wait the effect in order to make my report to the Minister. The good harmony which subsists for so long a time betwixt your royal nation and ours is still another reason which persuades me that your answer will be very favorable to my just pretensions.

I have the honor to be with respect,

Gentlemen,

Your very humble and very obedient Servant,

ANQUETIL de BRIANCOURT.

SURAT DIARIES. 407

Dimensions of the Staircase : —

Height of the ground from the level of the river

45 steps, breadth of each

Length of ditto

Height of ditto

3 Landing Places, the first breadth

the second

the third

Feet.	Inches.
56	0
1	1
6	6
0	6
1	1
4	4
6	G

Copy Translate of a letter from ML. Anquetil to the Hon^e the Governor and Council : —

Gentlemen, Surat, the IG'L August 1777.

The complaints of innocence oppressed, as also those of public faith violated, must be heard in a civilized nation, as the rights of the strongest are not always in reason, as here is a con- vincing proof.

The ground of the French Garden at Surat being exposed to the violence of the rapid current of the river, is always falling down ; that I should not be exposed with my family (in case we wanted to take a walk along the river side) to tumble down with the earth, I ordered, Gentlemen, in September last a wooden staircase to be erected. Immediately an obstacle was formed ; but the said stairs being acknowledged necessary and judged by a jury of able artists not to cause the least offence nor umbrage, ML Boddam (English Chief of this residence) as likewise the Nabob gave me authentically all permissions requisite to go on with the work, tho' those of the Nabob were superfluous, as all buildings erected in the French Garden depend on no other than the English Government, as being possessors of the Castle and in quality of Admiral of the Moguls fleet.

These stairs which during six months were by the public looked upon as no other than an easy descent for my family and such honest people as came that way, appeared (as soon as Mil Boddam was gone to Broach) a stone of scandal in the eyes of M.E Day (who was then Chief ad interim). It was in his opinion a dangerous redoubt which must be pulled down. He consequently sent his orders to the Nabob for that purpose. This last sent his people to break it down. I protested, I wrote, claimed my right, but all to no purpose ; the pusillanimous heart of Ml Day could not be at ease before it was destroyed.

The Nabob (altho' ashamed of the part he was made to act because he remembered the very authentic permission he himself had given) is at last obliged, on the repeated menaces of Ml. Day, to order it to be broke down, and in consequence of which these stairs which during six months subsisted without giving the least umbrage, and were erected on public faith, are broke into a thousand pieces.

The day after this glorious expedition of MJL Day I received a letter of the Council in answer to that I sent, which this Chief ad interim has certainly dictated himself, because it is illusory and captious in all its points. Those Gentlemen, well disposed as they say to render me all the service in their power with the Nabob, decide at last that I am in the wrong of things they themselves are ignorant of. "We don't know," say they, " you ever had permission for those stairs". If they would have discharged their duty properly, and as mediators as 1 desired them, and which they ought to grant me, they should have made a strict enquiry and decided in consequence as they found it to be. That beautiful proverb which is written in letters of gold in all English tribunals Alteram partem audi is then sacrificed by these gentle- men for a display of caprice and slander.

408 SURAT DIARIES.

In the meantime returns to Surat the Committee of Broach (Ml. Carnac, Ml Boddam, and Ml Ramsay). I made them my complaints of the evil and unjust proceedings of Ml Day. These gentlemen transported themselves to the French Garden (the place of the scene), looked at the place which presented no more than an overthrow of earth and full of holes which threatens every moment a little Belvidere built on its brink to be buried in its turn and to which the said stairs served as a support. The reiterated orders of Ml Day were so well executed by the Nabob, that the least of the wooden work was not to be seen. These gentle- men at the sight of this depredation shaked their heads, condemned Ml Day, and owned my complaints just, and added they saw very well a staircase was very necessary for the ease of myself and family.

The Gentlemen of the Committee did not resent this violation of my lawful right on the Nabob, neither will any body, however it may be at Surat, ever say it was by his doings. Every body lays the fault, ignominy, and blackness of the fact on Ml. Day, who, wanting to signalize himself during the short space of his reign in affronting me by this shameful act of his autho- rity, endeavouring to save his honor and hiding his malice from the public, he reports before and after this destruction that the stairs in question served only to defraud the custom house, and that (in secret) I lent my hands for that misdemeanor. This slander founded on supposition found however no belief with people of repute. He wanted proof but could find none, altho' he sought it at all events, and even in the worst manner. This needless and disgustful search did not discourage him, but what was above all of consequence to him, was to find out proper reasons to justify his black proceedings. It was sufficient for him to palliate it in the eyes of the besotted populace. Right or wrong he strikes his blow, the claim of my right is not heard* and the stairs are broken down. A triumphant act indeed, but enough for him.

This staircase however owned necessary for the ease of my family has been well examined

and cannot produce the least prejudice to the Custom house, nor give the least umbrage. It has

been constructed with all requisite permission and on the public faith. The situation of the ground

shows plainly it could not be made in another place nor in another manner. This Ml_ Day with

the whole world ought to have seen if he had known the decorum which subsists always amongst

Europeans with one another, and if it had been his case in the affair of the stairs to act against

me, he ought not to bring the Nabob in play. All buildings, whatsoever they are, in the French

Gardens are constructed with the consent of the Governor of the Castle but not that of the

town ; but as it is a violence committed by the Nabob (altho' prompted by Ml. Day) I hope,

Gentlemen, you'll please to order the said staircase to be rebuilt where it formerly stood, and at the

same time to be so obliging to procure me authentic reparation from him (the Nabob) for the

affront done to the French Nation, as he has infringed on the public rights. This, Gentlemen, is

the substance of my remarks I have sent dated 243l April last and to which I refer myself in

regard to the pulling down my landing stairs and prices thereto annexed. I am very sorry

your occupations have deprived me of your answer on my complaints and request of reparation

till now. I however beg you'll grant me justice on receiving and reading the present, which I

expect (as not doubting your equity), being obliged to give account of my conduct to the

French Ministry. I beg likewise you will enable me to prove to them (in making my general

report of my conduct) the goodwill and intentions you bear me, and the good harmony which

has always subsisted at Surat between your royal nation and ours.

I have the honor to be with the most profound respect and highest consideration.

Gentlemen, Yours, &£5,

ANQUETIL,

8URAT DIARIES. Sural, 30th November 1777.

Addressed our Superiors p r " Revenge" : —

Hon1;10 Sir & Sirs,

A translate of Mons ' Hriancourts letter of the 20^ April last having been laid More us with that of the 16"' August, we shall now enter into the following retrospect of our conduct. & our motives that induced thereto in respect to the itairfcue he mentions ; the Chief Idd M % Crokatt being absent, and Mi Gamhier not appointed one of our members when that matt.-, came under our consideration, those gentlemen consequently had no concern in the resolution- it produced at our Board.

Our attention was first engaged on this object by M<; Day (then the Senior Servant at tin- settlement) reporting to us in Council that Ally Novas Caun had repeatedly represented to him he could not be responsible for the execution of the duties of his office as Phoorza Daroga from the French having it in their power to defraud the Hon^8 Company and the Government in the Arti- cles of Customs, by means of a staircase the French Consul had constructed at his Gardens close by the river side, which was so contrived that nothing transacted there could be perceived from tin- town. And that Ally Novas Caun had further intimated a strong suspicion that they were not only intended but actually had been made use of for that purpose, by observing to Mi. Day that boats had been constantly passing of late to and from this spot both day and night, adding besides that he (Ml Day) had privately received certain information not long before the present Chiefs arrival here of Monsl Anquetil having been detected in the fact of attempting to convey some piece goods out of town clandestinely in his coach, in order to evade the pay- ment of Customs thereon, and that the Nabob intended to have fined him severely for this offence, but was at length prevailed upon to overlook it. All which being maturely considered by the Board, together with the frequent injunctions of the Honble the Court of Directors to discourage the trade of foreign European nations to this Port as far as possible without infringement of their Phirmaunds, priveleges which they have enjoyed in their utmost extent eversince our acquisi- tion of the Castle, tho they were hut merely nominal prior to that event, as well as the orders we had received a few days before from your Honor &°?7 , dated the 18^ March, wherein you remark a gradual decrease for some years past in the Castle and Tanka revenues, the latter of which chiefly arises from our Customs on the shipping trade, and earnestly require us to pay tin- strictest attention to the collection and improvement of our revenues, adverting also to tin- established usage of this place, founded on the authority that the ilon^L6 Company are invested with in quality of Governors of the Moguls Castle, which allows none of those nations to erect or construct any buildings, whether of masonry or timber, without previously obtaining permission from our Board, whose Records evince that MonsI Briancourt had never even appli- ed for such permission the instance he refers to. And reflecting further that the Town Govern- ment had an undoubted right with our acquiescence to make such regulations as might In- judged necessary for securing the Customs due to the Phoorza, and that its powers were actually exerted in somewhat a similar case under sanction of the orders that came from the Presidency relative to the demolition of the Flag Staff which the French had erected at their Garden in the year 1761, we unanimously resolved to make a suitable representation to the Nabob in order that by his interference the French might be deprived of so great a facility to carry on the business of smuggling, which we were apprehensive might otherwise not be confined to this property alone, but extend also to that of other foreign Europeans residing here, and parti- cularly to those valuable articles belonging to the Factory Merchants, which taking up but a small compass might be readily conveyed to the French Garden in secret ; nor can we doubt b 1255—103

410 SUEAT DIARIES.

but it will appear to you that we acted thus from the clearest dictates of our duty, but that instead of having any reason to complain of incivility on our part, MonJL Anquetil offered the hio-hest insult to the HonbJ5 Companys prerogative, as Governors of Moguls Castle in presum- ing to set on foot the staircase in question without our express approbation, especially as it was by no means so slight a piece of work as he has been pleased to represent it, but of a strong and durable nature, with a solid foundation of masonry, which remained of the walls of an house which formerly stood in the situation it occupied, and perfectly well calculated for landing and shipping off the heaviest sorts and largest packages of merchandize. And we must further beg leave humbly to submit to your judgement whether it would not be extremely impolitic, as well as contrary to the. mode of proceeding that has hitherto been constantly observed to avow to Mons r Anquetil (which it seems' to us he anxiously wishes for as a pretext to vilify the English influence in his advices to Europe) that we had in any shape endeavoured to bias the Nabobs conduct regarding it, because of the restraint it would lay us under from using this only method that would effectually serve to counteract any measures that may hereafter be taken here by the foreign European nations of an hurtful or dangerous tendency to the HonMf Companys interest, without involving the latter in disputes with them as principals. And likewise whether the vast uneasiness Monl Anquetil has shown at the loss of the staircase, the eagerness with which he sollicits you to have it replaced, and the vile scurrility of his language on this occasion ; whether, we say, these singular & illiberal effects of impatience & resentment do not powerfully argue that he has been disappointed in some point of a very interesting nature, rather than those he artfully presents of having a support for the little shed he calls Belvidere (which notwithstanding his assertion safely withstood the fresh & uncommonly heavy rains of the late, and the severest part, of the former monsoon without such assistance) and a commodious descent for his family to walk into a boat, even admitting that they delighted in parties on the river, which however we have no reason to believe, having never heard of their going upon the water during the several months the fabrick was in being, except once when they went to the Bar, tho' we have known it commonly made use of by the Captains and officers of foreign ships in general, and particularly the Portugueze, with whose Resident here it was currently reported Monf Anquetil was a partner in trade.

Having confined ourselves entirely thus far to what immediately relates to the measure which Monl- Anquetil has complained of to you, we cannot now but take notice of his malicious attempt to stigmatise the Gentlemen of this Board, by alledging that he would name some of them who acted in concert with some of his own nation in bringing goods clandestinely into Town. And on this head each of us most solemnly declares for himself upon his honor, that he has never been concerned, either directly or indirectly, in any such unjustifiable transaction, and is totally ignorant of any of the English having purchased merchandise here from a French ship, but some Marine Stores which the Board allowed the Marine Paymaster to pro- vide and land at the Bunder free of Customs to the Phoorza, on his representing that they were wanted for the use of the Hon'iL6 Companys vessels. And as MonsJL Anquetil has advanced several particulars in order that he might infer the Chief had authorized him to continue building this staircase while it was yet in a very imperfect state, we must beg leave to refer you to the Chiefs & Collectors Minutes of the 27th. instant, by the former of which it appears that from its private situation, and having been built during the rainy season when it was least liable to detection from the river, being very little frequented, the Chief never knew there was any staircase at the French Garden near the river side till nothing more was wanting to complete it than two doors, & a railing which were put up with his permission. And in the latter of those Minutes the Collector again assures the Board that he also had no knowledge of it till some time after it was finished.

&UBAT DIARIES, 411

We beg leave also to enclose you ;i copy of a Minute delivered in l>y Ml Day on this subject.

A Bill of Exchange having been offered of at Par in yoor favour for Rupees 40000, we

have accepted, and now enclose it to you.

In the packet are the following papers & accounts, viz. : — General Certificate t*<-r September, Warehouse accounts for October.

Surat, ,;i)'h Nov!. 1777. We are, k™.

Surat, 8* October 1778.

At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esqi Chief. Charles Bourchier. Daniel Seton.

James Morley. Frederick Dorrien.

Daniel Crokatt. Samuel Ganibier.

Ml. Thomas Day absent with leave.

Head and approved our last Consultation of the 30^ ultimo.

Head translate of a letter from M 1 Anquetil, the French Consul, and the protest accompany- ing, as entered hereafter. Agreed that we write him an answer to the following purport, that as he has declined enlarging on the subject until he knows what success he may have in his representations to the Naboh, we likewise forbear for the present entering into any particulars of the affair.

R. H. BODDAM.

Surat, 8lA October 1718.

Mi. Boddam, Chief for affairs of the British Nation, Admiral of the Fleet and Governor of the Fortress of the Mogul, and his Council. Gentlemen,

The public will have, already instructed you of the affront offered to the French nation, of the outrages committed against my person, as likewise against those of my wife & children, and of the violences executed upon all the Frenchmen then with me, and in general upon all my servants, by the people of the Nabob, when he sent them the 20^ of last month to my house at the French Garden, to the number of four hundred men, to place a guard there. I shall not in this letter enlarge upon this unheard of oppression committed upon ground which, belonging to the King of France, ought to be respected as a sacred asylum. My enclosed Protest informs you of all the aggravating circumstances ; the violences which have been done me have been of such a degree, as there exists no example of since Europeans have been at Surat. As I have all the right possible to prosecute the reparation of them, I address myself to you, Gentlemen, to obtain it, in case that the Nabob should not give it me so complete as I may require, and of which you will be convinced yourselves in reading the atrocious facts expressed in my Protest. A malif actor, a robber, even an assassin wou'd have been treated with more moderation and less violence. I suppress here all my afflicting reflections, fixing myself solely on the. power which your quality of Moguls Admiral & Governor of the Fortress gives you over the Nabob in order to repress acts of violence, and as it is a Consul of France (whose person you know, Gentlemen, is sacred as representing that of the King his master) who has received

412 SUEAT DIARIES.

these enormous insults, the repai-ation ought to be in proportion to the excesses of the violence* committed, and against which in this quality of Consul I likewise protest to you.

I have the honor to be, &2?,

Sural, 6* OctlL 1778. ANQUETIL de BRIAN COURT,

Consul.

Surat 8lA October 1778.

Verbal Process concerning the horrors and most unheard of excesses committed against the person of Monsieur Anquetil de Briancourt, Consul of his most Christian Majesty, and other Frenchmen, then in the Garden of the King at Surat, & Protest of the said Consul : —

The twentieth September one thousand seven hundred and seventy -eight, at nine o'clock at night, in the most profound obscurity, and at a time when everything was quiet and in security in the French Garden, a troop of Sepoys and Soldiers of the Nabob, or rather of high- waymen, to the number of four hundred men, forced and broke open one of the gates of the said Garden, feU with fury upon the porter and his family, whom they plundered, beat, and drove out of his house. After this first violation of the laws of nations, these Sepoys without officer at their head, traversing the French Garden, laying waste all of it, and putting all the Europeans they met with to the sword, as likewise all the servants of the Consul (M JL Anquetil). whom they knocked down with blows, ran every where like furies and arrived in confusion at the Consular House. They fell upon it, the sabre drawn and the bayonet fixed. They seize upon the doors which they bar with their arms, break the windows by which they enter into all the rooms like assassins. They there commit all sorts of disorders and robberies, as much in plundering on all sides as in exercising their brutality upon the slave girls, whom they drag out of the house for to take from them their silver bracelets. These violences were not enough. These barbarians threw themselves upon the beds where timid innocence thought she had a right to repose with tranquility. They were the children of the Consul, who, the one aged three years, and the other one year, were peaceably sleeping there. The clashing of the sabres and bayonets of furies awaken these tender victims of brutality. They shriek out at the sight of these furies, who lifted their sabres upon these little innocents. These monsters of Nature threaten to make the beds serve as tombs for these poor infants, if any body approaches them to give them the succours which their cries, and their arms extended towards their father, mother, and elder sister, demanded, but in vain. Whilst these tender offsprings of the Consul were kept in close custody, with the sword ready to fall upon them, himself, his wife (Madame Anquetil) and his eldest daughter sustained an assault difficult to describe. At the door of the hall again a troop of these furies, there reigned on one side a mixture of violence, of brutality and of impudence, and on the other of firmness, of pathetio expressions capable of moving the hardest entrails, of entreaties, of tears. AU this formed a contrast in which humanity (abused on one part, and moved to pity on the other, and frightened by the noise of sabres, firelocks, bayonets, which intermixed) could not reclaim her rights. The darkness of the night still increased the horror and the distress of this picture. This insolent troop had just forced away M _L. Trublet, officer of the " Curieux," who at that time was endeavouring to put the wife of the Consul in a place of security. He is dragged away with violence out of doors, and is bruized with blows. The Consul without arms or stick, assuming all his strength, cannot parry the blows, but by opposing to these furies an armchair, which served him for a buckler, against more than twenty bayonets which were presented naked against his stomach, which their points almost touched, and in the moment that he was upon the point of his being dragged away by this vile soldiery, nature and compassion redoubling the courage and the strength of his wtfe

SURAT DIARIES. 413

and of his eldest daughter, they, both the one and the other perform (more than the weakness of their sex permitted) a thousand efforts to disengage him. It was at this crisis that the shirt and the waistcoat of the Consul were torn upon his bodie by this troop of assassins, who said loudly that they were come to carry him off. The tears and the prayers of the Consuls daughter, the entreaties of his wife, who in order to move to pity these hearts of rock presented them her two children which she had just snatched from the hands of the executioners : nothing was capa- ble, of satisfying the rage of these unruly people. They had violated the law of nations with respect to the Consul, they trampled under foot those of decency and modesty with respect to his wife and daughter, by teazing them, taking hold of their arms, and talking to them in the most licentious language, outrages done to the sex which they ought to respect —what the representations, the entreaties, the prayers, the tears cou'd not effect (for they carried away the Consul, whom his wife and daughter did not quit) the simple presence of the officers performed. These last, who ought to march at the head, did not come long after their troop, probably that they might without restraint commit all these excesses, and exercise the plunder. They dis- persed the crowd without putting a stop to the continued alarms with which the family of MonsJL Anquetil was every moment threatened. They post double guards everywhere. The Consul, uneasy for the lot of the Frenchmen who were spread in different parts of the Garden, demanded that they might all be presented to him. M_L Trublet, quite bruized with blows, was given up to him ; M_L Charleval, whom a fever had confined for eight days to his bed, was brought to him, as likewise his two writers and four seaman of the " Curieux." As the Frenchmen had met with no fatal accident, except blows, they returned each to his apartment, where the champions, formadable solely by their number, guarded them very closely. M JL. Anquetil did not yet know what had drawn upon him this nocturnal visit, which he took for the effect of a robbery of the Nabobs troops, greedy of plunder. At eleven o'clock the Nabobs servant entered, and told him the reason in these few words — Some Merchants have complained to the Nabob that you are in their debt, and he sends the Guard to you that you may pay them. Is it with such ferocity, replies the Consul, that money is demanded ? I do not refuse to pay. If I owe, others owe me ; and I am ready to furnish my accounts ; but I am neither a robber nor a malefactor. What reason is there then to violate the laws of nations and that of humanity in committing so many atrocities towards me, my wife, my children, all the Frenchmen who are here, and in short of all my servant- I In quality of Consul they ought to respect in my person that of the King of France ; but no as if I had been a rogue they have torn my cloths upon my back, and treated my wife and chil- dren with the greatest brutality and indecency. I regard this act of. violence and robbery as an outrage done to the King of France in my person, and as an assassinate committed against me, against my wife and children, and your people have not chosen the night, but that they might with greater security & impunity exercise all the horrors, of which I demand satisfaction of the Nabob, very fully persuaded that he will grant it me as entire as I have a right to require. The servant of the Nabob felt himself the justice of all these recriminations, and he made no answer. The servants of the Consul then came to complain of thefts made during the tumult, — as silver spoons, silver forks, silver goglets, napkins, table cloths, many gowns of MJL Anquetils wrife and children, a great quantity of handkerchiefs, and the taylors chest broken open and half plundered. These robbers had already divided amongst them the spoil, so that the enquiries of the jemidars, officers, could only get back a very small part of this plunder. The servant of the Nabob returned to give an account to his master of the success of his Expedition. As the Coffree Jemidar had apparently his orders to outrage the family of the Consul with the least respect, even to decency, he did not let slip the occasion, when, at two o'clock in the morning MJL Anquetil was obliged to ask his permission to send for the Surgeon whose immediate assistance was necessary, for Madame, the widow Dugras, who had b 1255— 104

414 SURAT DIARIES.

been sick four months, and the sight of these Sepoys who went to forage even in her chamber had made her faint away several times. "Who could have thought that this permission to send for the Surgeon wou'd be refused ? The barbarians themselves wou'd not believe it, & if after many entreaties it was granted, it is because this insolvent Coffree had the impudence to feel himself the head and the pulse of the sick lady, an action repugnant to decency, and which is even contrary, according to the law of the Moors, to the customs practised with regard to women even of the lowest class, but what does not effrontery permit emboldoned by impunity and supported by despotism ? Ml Blacman, English Surgeon, came at three o'clock in the morning to the French Garden. This worthy man can give an account to the public of the spec- tacle, frightful on one part and distressful on the other, that struck on his arrival his eyes wet with tears, which commiseration & pity made him shed in spight of himself. On finishing his visit, his pockets on his return were searched as if the decency and the gravity of his character ought not to answer for his probity. All those who had business with the Consul, during the whole time of his detention, & who were returning home, were treated as unworthily : but the barbarity exercised towards the Consul and all his family was not yet at its height. The whole night from nine o'clock in the evening was spent in the midst of continual fears and alarms. Ten o'clock in the morning struck and no person of this deplorable family, father, wife, children, not even the servants, cou'd get any food. The children of the Consul, innocent victims of the hunger which they were made to suffer, demanded victuals with redoubled cries. These people of the Nabob had seized upon the kitchen, and nobody was permitted .to approach it. Fifty Rupees given this same day to these monsters, and as much the next day, satisfied their cupidity, and procured for the family of the Consul drinking and eating but still under much restraint. The laws of the country which order the guard forbid all violence of action, prevent the troops entering the house of him who is arrested, and only permit the surrounding of it without ; but all law of nations, of hospitality, of humanity, of decency, of propriety, of freedom, in short, all sacred laws have been violated with respect to ML Anquetil, Consul of France at Surat, and to all his family. The sketch of these horrors is traced in this verbal process, which is a faithful picture of it, and the most authentick reparation will never efface the cruel remembrance of all these infamies which lasted forty-eight hours. The Consul, who was every moment afraid for the life of his wife and of his children exposed in the middle of so much disorder, confusion, and acts of violence, had no other means of preventing every accident but to distrain his goods himself, and to make a general surrender of all that he possessed, as well as his wife and chil- dren. And this sacrifice required by force, disallowed by justice, and in which Madame and Made- moisille Anquetil shewed as much greatness of soul as generosity, — the stripping themselves of their jewels humanised these barbarians. The twenty-third September, at eleven o'clock at night, the troops of the Nabob, who came to demand of the Consul his purse, or his life, evacuated the French Garden as soon as he had given as security, without either form or justice, a pledge for which there was delivered to him a receipt. In consequence we, Anquetil de Briancourt in quality of Consul representing his most Christian Majesty in this city, protest against all these acts of the violence continued in the present verbal process, and all the bad consequences which may result from them, for the credit of the French nation at Surat, reserving to ourselves to make our most heavy complaint to the Minister of France, to have full and entire satisfaction from them. In faith of which we have signed the present verbal process & protest in presence of the Frenchmen and others who were then with us in the French Garden, who have also signed as witnesses. Done at Surat this twenty-third September at eleven o'clock at night.

(Signed) Anquetil de Briancourt, Consul ; Trublet, de Charlevalle Lemoin, Bernand.

Copy conformable to the original,

De MONCRIF de la GRANGE.

Chancellor.

SURAT DI ARIES. 415

We, Stephen Anquetil de Briancourt, Consul of France at Surat, certify tli.it the signature de Moncrif de la Grange here above set is that of the Senior de Moncrif de la lining'-, ( liane.-llor of the French Consulship of Surat; that faith ought to be put therein, a-* much in judgement as out of it, to the deeds which he signs in this quality. We further certify that stamped paper and the comptrol are not established in the said place, in faith of which we have signed these presents, and have thereunto set the seal of our arms. Given in our Consular House at Surat this sixth October one thousand seven hundred seventy-eight.

ANQUETIL de BRIANCOURT,

Consul.

0

Sealed the said day and year.

Surat, 13* October 1778. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esqr?_, Chief. Charles Bourchier. Daniel Seton,

James Morley. Samuel Gambier.

Daniel Crokatt.

M_L Day absent with leave. M_L Dorrien indisposed. Read & approved our last Consultation of yesterdays date.

On reperusal of M_r Anquetils letter of the 6i?L instant the Board think it necessary to make a few remarks on the following extraordinary privileges he lays claim to. First, that the French Garden being ground belonging to the King of France ought to be respected as a sacred asylum — and secondly, that the person of a Consul of France is sacred, as representing that of the King his master. In respect to the first, his residence at the French Garden is a mm- matter of indulgence from Government, & not that of right (it being a place designed only for recreation situated on the Esplanade immediately under the guns of the Town), as their Factory in town is the only proper place of his abode, and even that cannot be made use of as an asylum. With respect to the second, we do not consider his person in the least more sacred than those of the Chiefs of the other foreign nations settled at Surat, and there have been many instances of their having guards placed upon them.

On reperusing the protest the Board are of opinion that in order to give it weight, it ought to be true in general, and in every particular, whereas it is false in both those respects, and therefore no credit can be given to it. In general the circumstances are greatly exaggerated, and in particular many of the facts are falsified. Our remarks on a few instances will put the whole in a very clear light ; for if MX. Anquetil has the confidence to deviate from the truth in such material points, what faith can be put in his veracity on any occasion ? In the first place he alledges that the guard was placed upon him on the 20*1? , whereas it did not go till the 21 ' in the evening. Secondly, that the guard consisted of four hundred men, whereas we have certain knowledge that there were only two hundred. Thirdly, that the whole guard stay'd there till the 23r,J ,' whereas half of it was withdrawn on the 22EL1 through the interposition of the Chief. Fourthly, that they entirely laid waste his garden, whereas the garden did not suffer any damage whatever. Fifthly, that all the Frenchmen as well as servants were put to the sword, &S* , whereas, so far from it, there was not a person wounded.

R. H. BODDAM.

416 BURAT DIARIES.

Surat, Thursday, 22 L October 1778.

Received the following letter from the Governor and Council : — Gentlemen,

We have received your letter of the 9^ instant by the "Panther."

The very small increase in the inhabitants of Salsette, since it has been in our possession, and the uncultivated state in which a considerable part of that Island consequently still remains demanding our most active efforts to find some method of adding to its population, and as we are of opinion that with proper encouragement the Parsees and many others might be induced to come and settle thereon, we direct that you cause it to be made known at Surat, & also at Nunsaree, Versaul, & Gundavie, but in such a manner as not to give disgust to the Governments at the three latter places, that we will give the most ample encouragement to all new settlers on that Island, & allott them lands to cultivate on the most advantageous terms.

Enclosed is a packet for the Chief and Factors at Broach, which you will forward immedi- ately.

Bombay, 10* OctJL 1778. We are, &c±

Surat, 2<L November 1787.

Sailed the " Panther " & Convoy for Bombay. Arrived the " Betsey " & Convoy from Bombay, and by her received the following letter from the Select Committee : — Gentlemen, Judging it highly improper in the present state of open hostility with France that the Factory of that nation should be permitted to continue at Surat, we direct that you take proper measures, with the necessary secrecy, to arrest the persons of the French Consul and all other Frenchmen in that city and send them down to Bombay, where we shall allott a proper place for their residence. The French Consul must have liberty to act as he pleases with respect to his wife and family, and to bring them to Bombay or not as he may think proper.

It is not our intention that Mi Anquetils private property should be touched, but correct inventories must be taken and transmitted to us of all goods, effects, and stores found in the French Factory and Garden house.

We are, Bombay Castle, 27'A October 1778, Your loving Friends,

WM. HORNBY. Jon CARNAC. CH_1 EGERTON. D. DRAPER.

Surat, Tuesday, 3<L November 1778. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esql_ Chief.

Charles Bourchier.

James Morley. Daniel Crokatt.

Samuel Gambler."

M _L Day absent with leave. Mi. Seton indisposed.

Read & approved our last Consultation of yesterdays date.

Read a letter from the Hon^? the President and Select Committee dated 27^ ultimo, received last night.

SURAT D A It IE S. 417

Mess™ Bourchier, Morley, & Crokatt are appointed a Committee to carry into execution the orders of our Superiors regarding the arrest of the French Consul, & all U» Frenchmen in this city and securing the stores, goods, &£?, that may be found in the French Factory & Garden House &2L.

Being sensible of the largeness of the family of the French Consul, and the number of Gentlemen who compose the Consulate, the Board think it necessary to make them an allowance of twenty Rupees per day for their subsistance during their confinement at the French Garden, ami the Land Paymaster is ordered to pay the same, also to allow one Rupee per day to each of the other Frenchmen who reside in this city, likewise to afford provender to their cattle.

The Chief acquainting the Board that there are sundry purchasers of goods on board the " Betsey," the Warehousekeeper is ordered to land them.

R. H. BODDAM.

Arrested the persons of the French Consul and the other Frenchmen in this city. Received the following letter from Mi Anquetil : —

R. Boddam, Esq™, Governor of Surat Castle for the Mogul, English Chief and his Council, at Surat.

Gentlemen, I was not a little surprised this morning to see at the French Garden three of your Gentlemen who have made me, Ml de Moncrif Chancellor, and every other Frenchman at Surat prisoners of war. In consequence of which they have put under seal all the papers to take an inventory of them tomorrow. I in vain represented to them that it was against the rights of the neutrality established and observed at all times at Surat. These Gentlemen neither regarding my representation nor the letter of the Minister which I presented to them, in which I am expressly ordered, under date the 18!£ May last, to observe the most perfect nuetra- lity at Surat ; and since every thing appears to be done against the usages hitherto practised, I pro- test by this letter against this act of hostility, which ought never to have taken place, and throw upon whomsoever it shall belong all the grievous consequences which may result therefrom.

I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Surat, Si, November 1778. Gentlemen,

Your most humble and obedient Servant, ANQUETIL de BRIANCOURT.

Thursday, 5llL. — Received the following letter from Ml Anquetil : — R. Boddam Esq L, Governor of the Castle for the Mogul, English Chief and his Council, at Surat.

Gentlemen, I did myself the honor of writing you the day before yesterday protesting against the act of hostility you have committed in making me, M_? de Moncrif Chancellor, and every French- man at Surat prisoners of war, an act of hostility which is utterly contrary to the neutrality established and observed in this city of which the Nabob is Governor. You kept it strictly during the last war while I resided here all the time which it lasted, without ever thinking of breaking it towards me. I was at that time Chief of the Factory for the India Company, and my quality of Consul of his most Christian Majesty, with which I am now honor'd, has not in the least changed the ancient and established regulation. But since it has pleased you, Gentlemen, to act different - ly towards me at this time, I the day before yesterday protested against this act of hostility ; & I again protest against the seizure of all the effects of the King at Surat.

b 1255—105

418 SURAT DIARIES.

I have besides to represent to you, Gentlemen, in respect to the verbal orders which has been given me, to hold myself in readiness to go to Bombay in four days, with Mi de Moncrif and all the Frenchmen who are with me, that it is utterly impossible for me to be ready in so short a space of time. My wife and children are sick and will never part from me. The kindness and nobleness of your sentiments, even humanity will induce you to deem my representation just. Therefore have the goodness to allow me a proper time, in order that I may arrange my affairs accordingly and get ready all my furniture and effects, which I intend carrying with me to the place of imprisonment which you have destined for me.

But, Gentlemen, why this removal, which will occasion me considerable trouble ? You have made me a prisoner of war ; you have seized all the effects of the King ; you are possessed of my person, of Ml de Moncrifs, and the other Frenchmen, over whom you keep your guard. What advantage will you reap from doing any thing further ? Since we are your prisoners, cannot you allow us the French Garden for a prison ? I and MJL de Moncrif will execute all the formalities required by your nation to secure to you our persons. In granting my request you will render me a very great service, since my wife and family, who are almost all sick, will not be obliged to make a voyage, of which I dread the troubles and consequences.

I will repeat then my entreaties to have this favor granted to me, and to those who are with me, from whom I should be extremely concerned to be seperated. In case the permission for our remaining at the Garden cannot be granted us, if you rather chuse it, we may retire with the same precautions taken on your part to the French Factory in town.

Whatever may be your determination with respect to the above representations, is it not in your power, Gentlemen, to order the examination of the papers which are under your seal, to be made here rather than at Bombay, where you have said it should be done ? This favor would put us in possession of private papers which are necessary to us.

I ought further to represent to you, Gentlemen, that Ie Pere Gilbert, Curate of the French Mission, cannot be sent to Bombay without putting a stop to Divine Service, which ought not to suffer any interruption. Therefore, I beg you so to order it, that he may continue in the Missionary House, and that he may have the liberty to perform the functions of his office.

An inventory was given yesterday of the furniture and moveable effects belonging to the King at Surat. There remains yet to furnish you with that of the immoveables, records and papers which you have also seized, but I think that it is but conformable to justice that you give me a receipt for them.

I look for a speedy and satisfactory answer from you on the foregoing subjects, since the case requires despatch.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration,

Gentlemen, Your most humble & obedient Servant. ANQUETIL de BRIANCOURT.

Surat, Friday, 6lh November 1778. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esql, Chief. Daniel Crokatt. Charles Bourchier.

James Morley. Samuel Gambier.

Daniel Seton.

Ml Thomas Day absent with leave. Read & approved our last Consultation of the 2i instant.

SU RAT DIARIES. ;i'

The Chief acquaints the Board that he has received a letter from le Pere Gilbert setting forth his surprize at being made a prisoner of war, as it is contrary to the manner in which the French Priests were treated in America last war, & requesting that he might l>e allowed to perform his functions as the French Missionaries are permitted at Madras, or that he may allowed his freedom on his Parole of Honor, under the security of the Portugueze Resident, but if neither of these requests can be complied with, he desires that a Portugueze Padree by name Antonio, who has frequently officiated in that capacity at this place, may be permitted to per- form Divine Service in the French chapel in his stead. The Chief not judging it proper to granl either of the two first requests, has only complied with the last.

Head two letters from the late French Consul, dated the 31. & 5^ instant, copies of which are to be forwarded to the Select Committee.

Having considered of Mrr Anquetils several requests, it is out of our power to comply with any of them except that of his being allowed a further time to prepare for his removal, which on the several accounts he has set forth the Board agree that he may be permitted to remain here fourteen days longer.

With regard to the other prisoners, as there is no reason for allowing them the same indulgence, agreed that they be sent to the Presidency by the first opportunity.

Read the report of the Committee appointed to carry into execution the orders of our Superiors of the 27^ ult °. regarding the arrest of the French Consul &c±, as entered hereafter. Ordered, that copy thereof be transmitted to the Select Committee.

R. H. BODDAM.

Gentlemen, In consequence of your appointing us a Committee to carry into execution the orders of the Hon"? the President and Select Committee of the 27i!j of last month, we proceeded imme- diately to the French Garden, with the guard ordered to attend us, and acquainted the French Consul with the purport of these orders in the following terras. That on account of the present state of open hostility between Great Britain & France, we were come to arrest his person as well as those of all other Frenchmen, who were to be sent down to Bombay, where a proper place will be allotted for their residence ; that he was to have liberty to act as he pleases with respect to his wife & family and to carry them to Bombay or not as he may think proper ; that his private property should not be touched, but that we must take correct inventories of aU goods, effects & stores found in the French Factory & Garden House. The French Consul then desired he might be permitted to take down in writing what we had communicated to him, which request we complied with. We sealed up all books and papers, and took correct inventories of all goods, effects and stores found in the French Factory & Godown House, which we now enclose together with separate inventories delivered to us by each of the French gentlemen signed by themseh and we left guards in charge of the French Factory & Garden House, and delivered them a list of the French prisoners, a copy of which is now enclosed.

We are with respect &c*.

Surat, 5* November 1778. CHS BOURCHIER.

JAS. MORLEY. DANIEL CROKATT.

420 SUBAT DIARIES.

Surat, Saturday, 7% November 1778.

Received the following letter from Ml Anquetil : —

R. Boddam, EsqEi, Chief, President, &^, and his Council at Surat. Gentlemen,

Mess™ Morley and Crokatt have been here to take from among the papers which are under your seal, a letter wrote me by the Minister, the 10th.. May last, by which you no doubt mean to inform yourselves of the orders given me by him on this actual occurance. Thus, Gentlemen, you will perceive that in case of a war it was ordered me to assert the neutrality that has always been respected and observed at Surat, and you must be sensible of the harm you have done in breaking it in regard to this Consulate. But where was the occasion for taking the papers belonging to Ml Charleval ? what have they to do with the affairs of the King ? Ml. Charleval is not here in his service. He is a French gentleman who practises in Engineering and travels for his own private instruction. He is with me as a passenger, and intended to return to France, where his family recall him, therefore his writings & papers have nothing at all to do with this Consulate. Besides, is it regular thus to carry away papers " in toto " without giving the particulars of them, without inspecting them before us, and being even acknowledged in our presence and that of your Gentlemen by the owner ? Therefore allow, Gentlemen, that I pro- test against the illegal manner of carrying off the papers.

I sent the Senior Smith, one of our writers to Damaun, on my own private affair & to collect some sums of money due to me there. For these two days, Gentlemen, you have detained him prisoner, without permitting him to come and give an account of what I had commissioned him to do. As the Senior Smith is a Dutchman & not a Frenchman, and as he only serves me in my own private affairs, I protest against his detention, which causes me a great damage, and which prejudicial consequences to my private concerns I shall lay to your account, unless you are so good as to send him back to me immediately upon my thus demanding him.

I have also to observe to you that there are in the family of my wife two widows, her aunts M™ Mouchel and M? Dugras. Since I have been at Surat I have always provided for their necessities. They are now of an age not to be deserted. As my detention in quality of a prisoner of war deprives me of the means of continuing to them my assistance, no doubt, Gentlemen, your humanity will make up for it. I ask for each of them 30 Rupees subsistance per month.

With respect to the Senior Dugras the son, as he is in the employ of Mi; Bolts, and receives from him allowances, he cannot be supposed to be concerned in the French affairs.

I hope, Gentlemen, you will grant my request in allowing the two ladies Mouchel & Dugras in quality of the widows of Frenchmen, and in consideration of their age and infirmities, the 30 Rupees necessary for their subsistance.

This is the third letter I have had the honor to address you. I expect an answer to all the subjects that these three letters contain-

I have the honor to be with great respect, Gentlemen, Your most humble and very obedient Servant, ANQUETIL de BRIANCOURT.

Sailed the Northern Convoy, & to the Southward a Grab under English colors. Addressed the Select Committee as follows : — HonbJ«_ Sir & Sirs, Your command of the 27^1 ult5. relative to the arrest of the persons of the French Consul, and all the other Frenchmen in this city, and securing the goods, stores &<=* found in the French

8URAT DIARIES. 421

Factory & Garden-house reached us the 24 instant, in consequence of which we appointed Mess1?. Bourchier, Morley, and Crokatt a Committee to carry the same into execution. Copy of report of their Proceedings upon this occasion accompanies this address.

As the Committee proceeded with great dispatch and secrecy and the measure was totally unsuspected on the part of the French, we douht not that we are in possession of every paper of any consequence.

ML Anquetils family heing very large, and the gentlemen who compose the Consulate numerous, we have thought proper to make ML Anquetil an allowance of 20 Rupees per day for the suhsistance of himself, family, and those who are with him, exclusive of provender for their cattle, during their confinement at this place, and to each of the other Frenchmen who are confined in town we have allowed one Rupee per day, which, though they are dissatisfied with it, we cannot but think is a very ample provision.

Since the arrest of Mr Anquetil we have received two letters from that gentleman, copies of which are enclosed. In compassion to the distresses of his family, and as your Honor &£? have not limited us with respect to the duration of his residence here after his being made prisoner, we have granted his request for his being allowed a further time to prepare for his removal than was at first given him, and have therefore deferred his departure till the 20th instant. Not being authorized to comply with his other requests, we beg leave to refer them to your Honor &La.

As there is no reason for granting the same indulgence to the other prisoners, we shall take the opportunity of the " Betsey " to send the greatest part of them to your Honor, &<?. List of the names of those who will proceed upon that vessel is enclosed.

The Chief has received a letter from Father Gilbert, the French missionary, setting forth his surprise at being made a prisoner of war, as it is contrary to the manner in which the French Priests were treated in America last war, and requesting that he may either be allowed to per- form his functions here in the same manner as the French missionaries are at Madras, or that he may be granted his liberty on his Parole of Honor under the security of the Portugueze Resident ; but if neither of these requests can be complied with, he desires that a Portugueze Padree by name Antonio, who has frequently officiated in that capacity, may be permitted to perform Divine Service in the French chapel in his stead. The Chief not judging it proper to grant either of the two former requests, has only complied with the latter, and he is therefore to be sent down by the " Betsey."

Enclosed is a General Return of the Troops in this Garrison ; likewise a list of the French prisoners at this place.

Surat, 7% NoVL 1778. We are, &<£.

P. S. — The Inventories being very long, cannot possibly be got ready to send by this opportunity.

Wednesday, lll]L. — Received the following letter from M* Anquetil: — Ml Boddam, Chief, and his Council at Surat. Gentlemen,

After the favour you have done me in allowing me to remain at the French Garden until the 20^, the day fixed for my departure, give me leave to ask one more, which is that M_r. Le Roy may not be separated from me. He is an old man who has kept me company these 5 years past. and whom we love and esteem much. The deferring his departure must be a matter of indiffer- ence to you, and if you have not the kindness to consent to it, he will lament it greatly, & it will be with the greatest concern that I shall see him go away tomorrow with the other Frenchmen. It is lamentable enough at his age, after Inning suffered all sorts of misfortunes, to be moreover b 1255-I06-»-

422 SURAT DIARIES.

reduced to live in misery, far off from his wife and children. Will you refuse him, and me who requests it for him, the only consideration which he requires at present ?. If you have the smallest distrust of him, gentlemen, I hesitate not to be surety for his person ; my wife joins her entreaties to mine.

I have the honor to be, with great respect,

Gentlemen, Your most humble & obd*. Serv*,

ANQUETIL.

Thursday, 12*. — Returned the Northern convoy.

Surat, Friday, 13^ November 1 778. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson HartBoddam, Esq I, Chief.

James Morley. Daniel Seton.

Charles Bourchier. Daniel Crokatt. Samuel Gambier.

Ml Day absent with leave. Read & approved our last Consultation of the 6^* instant.

Read two letters from Ml Anquetil, dated the 7^ and 11!* instant, copies of which arc to be forwarded to the Select Committee. With respect to his request to have Ml Le Roy continue with him, the Board cannot by any means comply therewith, as it is notorious that ML. Le Roy is here in the capacity of a Spy, who ML Anquetil sends to different parts of the country, to Poonah, Demaun, &, even Pondicherry, and further (as the Chief acquaints the Board) that from M Z Charlevals papers it appears that he had been very lately dispatched to Choul with a packet to the Count D'Estaing or Commander-in-Chief of the French Squadron: in case of its coming to that Port, as also with one to the Chevalier de SI Lubin.

The Chief lays before the Board a letter he has received from Ml Anquetil, copy of which is ordered to be sent to the Select Committee. The Board observe that ML Le Roy, who in Ml. Anquetils list is ranked as a Captain, has only been employed in that capacity by Ml Anquetil himself in a small vessel out of this Port, & that the last voyage he made as a seaman in 1774, he was Mate of a small vessel belonging to Dunjeeshaw, commanded by ML Guillant, on a voyage from this port to the Gulph of Mocha.

As to Ml. Charleval, so far from his being a gentleman travelling solely for his own amusement & improvement, it appears from his papers that he is an Engineer, and that ML. Anquetil has taken advantage of his professional knowledge to employ him as a spy, as-amongst his papers was found a sketch of a plan of Surat Castle.. The Board therefore think it proper that he should, as well as ML Le Roy, be immediately sent to Bombay, and they are accordingly with Father Gilbert, M L Smith, & Ml Quibbit to be sent on board the " Betsey " tomorrow, in order for their proceeding to the Presidency.

We are with respect, &ct, Surat, 12* November 1778, JA| MORLEY, Storekeeper.

ROB? JACKSON, Cap! Commt. JOHN HOLBROOK, Cap! Arl T.

Saturday, 14*. — Addressed the Select Committee as follows: — HonW? Sir & Sirs,

Since our last address of the 7!^ instant we have received two more letters from Ml Anquetil, copies of which are enclosed.

SURAT DIARIES. 423

The indulgence we have been induced to shew him on account of his representation of the distress of his family has only served to incite him to make further requests which reason cannot warrant.

With respect to that, to have Ml Le Roy remain with him until his departure, we cou'd not on any account comply with it, as it is notorious that If* Le Roy is here as a Spy, whom M.L. Anquetil sends to different parts of the country, to Demaun, Poonah, and even Pondicherry when occasion requires it, and further as it appears from Ml Charlevals papers that he, M L Le Roy, has been very lately dispatched to Choul with a packet to the Count D'Estaing or Commander-in-Chief of any French Squadron which should come to that place, as also with one to the Chevalier de Si Lubin.

As to Mi; Charleval, so far from his being a gentleman unengaged in the French affairs and travelling for the sole purpose of his improvement & amusement, it appears from his papers that he is really an Engineer, and that Ml. Anquetil has taken advantage of his knowledge in that art to employ him as a Spy, as among his papers has been found the sketeh of a plan of Surat Castle. We therefore think it necessary that he as well as M I Le Roy should be sent to the Presidency immediately, and they accordingly now both proceed upon the " Betsey," as likewise as M.L Quibbit, Ml Smith, & Father Gilbert.

With respect to Ml Anquetils request for the allowances to the two widows, we do not think ourselves authorized to comply with it.

Surat, 14^ November 1778. We are &cl

Transmitting you a copy of it, and must observe with respect to the rank of Captain which in his list he has given Mi Le Roy, that that gentleman has only been employed in that capacity by Ml. Anquetil himself in a small vessel out of this port, & that in 1774 the last voyage he made as a seaman he was Mate in a small vessel out of - this Port, belonging to Dunjeeshaw, commanded by Ml Guillant, on a voyage to Mocha.

Surat, 14~ November 1778. We are, &c5

Surat, Thursday, 4% February 1779.

At a Consultation, Present:

Rawson Hart Bbddam, Esql.r Chief.

Thomas Day. James Morley. Daniel Seton.

Charles Bourchier.

Daniel Crokatt

Samuel Gambier.. Read & approved our last Consultation of the 2i> instant.

MonsI. Anquetil & his family being now embarked on board the "Betsey," the Board think it necessary to dispatch that vessel immediately with a letter to the Select Committee, setting forth our reasons for having sent them to the Presidency, which are to follow, and which were not minuted last Council, as the necessity of putting the Resolution of the Board into immediate execution did not afford us time to enter them.

Tho' the Board cannot at present pretend to judge of the truth of the information, yet from the possibility and practicability of effecting such a scheme, in case any of the Nabobs officers in command of any of the gates should prove traitors, we thought it absolutely necessary for the general safety & security of the city, that MonsI Anquetil and his family should be immediately removed and sent to Bombay. Tho' MonsI Anquetil has not been allowed to carry on any correspondence in writing since his confinement, yet there is but too much reason to believe that by means of his wife & servants he has carried on a verbal correspondence with the Dutch,, and many of the country people, as she has been continually

424 SUR AT DIARIES.

with the Dutch, and frequently visiting some of the principal Mogul women, on which account the Board intended, previous to our receiving this information, to desire permission to send Mons L Anquetil to the Presidency, as we thought it very improper that he should he allowed to remain in a city like this, where he had so many opportunities of corresponding with the Country Powers by means of his wife, who is perfectly acquainted with the country language & customs, and has always appeared to be very zealous in carrying on her husbands intrigues, and serving him as his interpreter upon all occasions. Tho' no direct evidence has yet been given us in support of the information of Pere Gilbert & Mons^ Charleval &°, we cannot believe that so cruel & inhuman a plot could be conceived in its whole extent by any European, yet it is impossible for us to suppose that the information given to the Hon. the President can be entirely without foundation, and we think it not improbable that Monsl Anquetil & Mons L De S 1 Lubin may have had some idea of plundering the City and surprising the Castle.

R. H. BODDAM.

Tuesday, 91]l. — Arrived the Northern Convoy. A Deputation waited on the Dutch Directore with the following letter : — Gentlemen,

On account of the friendly intercourse which has so long subsisted between our two Factories, we think it proper, in an affair where your safety and the interest of the Noble Netherland East India Company are so deeply concerned, to communicate to you the informa- tion we have lately received of a horrid conspiracy entered into between MonsL Anquetil, late French Consul at this place, the Chevalier De S* Lubin, late French Resident at Poonah, now at Damaun, some of the Maratta Generals, and several of the Nabobs Jemidars, the latter of whom not yet discovered, for introducing at night by treachery a large body of Maratta troops into this city, to set fire to various parts of it, to murder the English, some of you, Gentlemen, and the Nabob, to make a general massacre of the natives, and afterwards plunder the city, as well as, if possible, surprise the Castle.

Altho' we cannot believe that so cruel & inhuman a plot could be conceived in his whole extent by any European, yet it is impossible for us, for several reasons, to suppose that the information we have received can be entirely without foundation. Being extremely desir- ous of getting at the truth of the affair, we request that you, Gentlemen, will be pleased to communicate to us every information regarding this plot, which you may be able to procure.

We are, &S_a. Surat, 9lA February 1779.

Surat, 11* February 1779.

At a Consultation, Present:

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esq!!, Chief.

Daniel Crokatt. Daniel Sexton. Samuel Gambier.

Thomas Day. Charles Bourchier. James Morley.

Read and approved our last Consultation of the 8* instant.

The Committee appointed last Council to communicate to the Nabob the intelligence we received of the conspiracy, now report to the Board that having complied with their directions on that head, the Nabob desired the deputation to make his acknowledgement for the same which he considered as a very obliging instance of their attention to his welfare, and acquaint

SURAT DIARTES. «5

them that he should use every endeavour to discover tin- persons concerned therein, with every other material circumstance regarding it, and advise the Chief how far his enquiries may be successful or otherwise.

H. H. BODDAM.

Surat, 87* February 1779.

Extract of a letter from Monsr- Anquetil de Briancourt, French Consul at Surat, to Monsr de Sartine, French Secretary of State for the Naval Department at Paris, dated Surat, 12^ April 1777 — Translation:

I entreat you, my Lord, to engage M"L Moncrif, who went from hence on the " Duras " in December last, to return to Surat with his quality of Chancellor, and in case of his refusal he will tell you the person who is suitable for this station. Every one is not proper for the Con- sulate of Surat, which demands a showy appearance in order to support the glory of the Nation, much firmness & insinuation to improve the privileges, and great political abilities in order to live with the foreigners, and especially to discover secretly the intrigues & negotiations of the English. Although these three objects regard solely the Consul, a good Chancellor will assist him greatly in this thorny business.

Extract of a sketch concerning the city of Surat, written by MonsL Anquetilde Briancourt, late French Consul, and found among his papers in his own hand writing — Translation :

This Consulate may become as useful to our nation in time of war, as lucrative to it in time of peace, when the Consul is intelligent & politician enough to take every advantage which the neutrality of the place procures him, and the Ministry of France may draw great benefit therefrom. The representative of the nation can from hence examine every thing that passes at Bombay, which is the only port the English have in India. He is in a situation of being informed, with the utmost precision, of the armaments which they make there, and of the military expeditions which they prepare. In short, he may be acquainted, at the time, with all the manoeuvres of the English. His letters sent opportunely by land to the Govern- ment of Pondicherry can then be of the greatest consequence. The situation of the city of Surat is happy for every sort of correspondence. The continual concourse of foreigners who come here forms a centre of reunion, where every one finds his particular security. One learns here what passes in almost all the countries of Asia & Africa by meaus of the ships & foreigners which come here from every part. One likewise receives here the freshest news

from Europe, by Bussorah, and especially whither the English make voyages since

4 or 5 years.

Sura', 28* February 1779. Wrote the Dutch as follows : — Gentlemen,

We have been honoured with your letter of the 22ll_ instant, and are sorry to find you have so much mistaken the meaning of ours dated the 12^ instant. If you will please to refer to that letter, you will observe that we expressly requested we might see your original Phirmaunds and take copies of them ourselves, which you would afterwards be pleased to attest. But instead of complying with our request, you have only sent us attested copies.

As the privileges you lay claim to are of a very extensive nature, and we cannot possibly

form a judgment of your Phirmaund privileges without seeing all your Phirmaunds, we again

desire that you will be pleased to produce the originals in order for us to take copies of them.

We shall take into our consideration your request for repairing the pile work at your

Bunder, and shall do ourselves the honour to acquaint you with the result as soon as possible.

b 12^5— 107

426 SURAT DIARIES.

We are extremely sorry to be under the necessity of refusing our consent to a request you made to our Committee in regard to your substituting partition walls of brick & chunam and a terrace roof to the inner room of your Magazine, in lieu of the bamboos & cow dung of which they are at present composed.

We very readily consent to your repairing your Powder Magazine with the same materials of which it is at present constructed, and to your putting it in the same situation it was in before. The work & the tanks and the repairs to the other parts of your Bunder, which our Committee consented should be executed, will be superintended by our Engineer.

With respect to your request for erecting a new flag-staff, we most chearfully comply with it.

We are, &cL

Surat, 28* February 1779.

Stirat, 10* March 1 779.

Extract of a letter from MonsL. Anquetil de Briancourt, late French Consul at Surat, to MonsL de Montigny, found amongst MonsL. Anquetils papers in his own handwriting, with- out date, but acknowledging the receipt of a letter from MonsL. de Montigny, dated Agra,

13<* August 1778:—

The fear of a war, of which you know the hostilities commenced at Chandernagore and at Pondicherry, has made me bury all your papers and mine.

I have taken out in the presence of MonsL. Le Boy & MonsL. Trublet your portfolio & other papers from your chest and have put them in security with mine.

Extract of a note from Monsr_ Anquetil de Briancourt, late French Consul at Surat, to MonsL le Chevalier de S. Lubin, late French Resident at Poonah, dated Surat, 3th SeptL 1778, and found among MonsL Anquetils papers in his own handwriting : —

Mons£_ Anquetil presents his compliments to MonsL. le Chevalier de S. Lubin, and begs he will give from him the following information to Nana Furnese & Succaram Bapoo. The intention of the English-is to fall upon Bassein if the FrenchSquadron does not appear in a month or two &??.. To prevent this stroke it is necessary that Nana Furnese and Succaram Bapoo throw more forces into that place, the attack of which is resolved on at Bombay, and which the English will certainly take, if the Ministry of Poonah does not make use of the present information.

Extract of a letter from MonsL Anquetil de Briancourt, late French Consul of Surat, to Monsl. le Chevalier de SL. Lubin, late French Resident at Poonah, dated Surat, 20*h October 1 778, and found among MonsL. Anquetils papers in his own handwriting : —

Could not you likewise treat with Nana Furnese, the Ministry at Poonah, to whom this sum of ten or twelve thousand Rupees would be a trifle. If you undertake this negotiation you cannot but succeed. Perhaps the Marattas will be charmed to have the opportunity of obliging the French nation, and especially a person always ready to operate here against the English for their interests. This sole motive, of which they will feel all the consequences, may deter- mine them to make me this advance.

Surat, 8a April 1779. Observations on NL 1.

There were two prepared when the English came to make me prisoner. CharlevaL had only time to burn his. As for mine, tho' it is not in good order, I fortunately preserved

8URAT MAR1E8. 427

it, by pulling it in pieces & hiding it in my long drawers, for I was in Robe de Chamber when the English came to make the conquest of the French Garden at Sur.it. I am muoh pleased at having saved this N£. 1 and with having negotiated with the English, so as to prevent my being sent to Bombay, otherwise I should not have been able to send it you. It is true that I cannot go out and that they have made my house a perfect dungeon, but no matter, sine- I am in a condition to give the English this blow, which may be extremely fatal to them. In sending you this Nl. 1, is it not a great consolation to me to be still able to serve my nation, tho' shut up as I am, by the means & through the aid of so good a friend & so zealous a Patriot as Mons1! le Chevalier de S*_ Lubin. Endeavour to make an advantage of this N° 1. It i- very exact and it is a little mutilated, as well as I remember it is only in a part of no conse- quence, of which the English Engineer has not even made any detail, on the inside the essen- tial part is perfectly finished, excepting the references, which however you will find done on small papers, and written in English. This work has cost me much money & great anxiety, nor shall I be easy in mind until I know it is in your hands, who are the only person that I know in India who is able to take advantage of it for the nation, so, my dear Sir, do not mention the receiving of it to my wife.

Letter from M. Anquetil to M. de St. Lubin relative to a plan of the City and Castle of

Surat : —

This plan of the city of Surat is very exact, as well as the part of the fortress, since it is made from that of the English. The part of the city concerning the suburbs is not filled up, the original plan is the same, and the work was not necessary, since the operations should only be carried on towards the river & the adjacent streets. This work is very exact. The preci- pitation with which it was taken has prevented the joining to it the table of references. The figures only are marked on it and the explanation of the figures is upon small loose papers separate, & written in English. Neither is the scale upon the plan. Inadvertance, or want of time, is the cause of it. But you will find it herewith, as it was saved from the English se. by the greatest chance in the world, and not without great risque, the day, the 3i_ Novem.n'r 1778, that the English made the French prisoners in the French Garden. It is for that reason this plan is rumpled, but that is no matter to a connoisseur who will be able to put the pieces in order.

Jumabundy of Chi«kley Purgunnah for the year 1778-79 : —

Names of the Villages. Gunduvah Thallah Wand ... ... ...

Wandanah

Jogwand ... ... ...

Chettaby

Mutwand

Randurg Cullan

Mulwadah

Doldurah

Gundcivah

Thallah

Sarnuvan

Gage

1377	2	1
369	0	0
1441	0	0
2918	3	0
697	2	a
597	2	0
925	0	0
842	0	1
75	0	0
75	0	0
689	0	0
184	2	0
601	0	0
1501	0	0

428 SUE AT DIARIES.

Furlovi

Cangway

Mulwads

Doldurrah

Gunduvah ... ... ... ...

Thallah

Sadurwan

Gase ... ... ... . ...

Tnslove ... ...

Badshung ... ... ... ...

Mulwad ... ...

Doldurrah ... ... ... ...

Andul

Mase Gaun ...

Bhoondwan ... ... ... ...

Secqadah

Danjee ... ...

Phallya

Nagdurah

Plonuj ... ... ,..

Soontwand ... ... ...

Andor

Soldms ... ... ...

Ruswads

Eran Gaun

Culwari

Putah

Sureah ... .,. ... .,,

Wandy

Bhoonwaddy ...

Saduckpoon ...

Wahwa

Charry ..,

Cookrey ... ... ...

Soorkay ... ...

Sariah

Pandy

Caparia

Pempuldurrali

Tankal

Muleadrah

Cunbhoy

Oudwill

Mulwadah

Doldurah

Nagaun

Vagisand

Bamonwand ...

Cambadah

Agasey

Barback

Soontaiwand ...

Masigaum

Ru wan ry curd...

...

...

497	0	0
1270	1	0
37	2	0
36	2	0
689	0	0
184	2	0
775	0	0
1501	0	0
497	0	0
1155	0	0
37	2	0
36	2	0
1106	0	0
662	2	0
651	0	0
476	0	0
1446	0	0
528	0	0
1225	0	0
125	0	0
202	2	0
2725	0	0
1575	0	0
276	0	0
1575	0	0
1825	0	0
1512	2	0
298	2	0
212	2	0
51	0	0
2751	0	0
401	0	0
801	0	0
2109	0	0
1275	0	0
173	1	0
195	0	0
551	0	0
1256	0	0
1885	0	0
791	0	0
854	2	0
325	1	0
152	2	0
51	0	0
2255	0	0
117	2	0
535	0	0
551	0	0
421	0	0
275	0	0
151	2	0
668	2	0
1295	0	0

SURAT DIARIES.

m

Mincutah

Suriah

Boond

Carrially

Ranonsa ... ... ... ... ...

Mahoody

Mulvada

Doldurrah

Thugaine

Catnadah

Suuirolly

Mulvado

Doldurrah

Edul

Culvadah

Bauionvar

Pardy

Soontwand

Amdurrah

Curolly

Rintvamia

Mulvads

Talloockora ...

Succall ... ... ... ... ...

Gagty Digame Allypon Pepildumanu . . . Manockpon ... Cusbah

Rupees Account Salary due to the Honourable Companys Covenant January to the lL4 July 1779 :—

425 651 851 875

1190

899

79

128

1697 383

1099

41

128

831

1565

1692 125 327

1777

861

475

34

2151 935 451

8161

2176

1351 451 432

0 0 2 0

0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

..82001 0 0 Servants from

the 2*

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esq'.., Chief, 6 months on £ 100 per annum is £ 50 or.

Mr

Thomas Day,	Merckant 6	d°-r
Charles Bourchier	di	6	d?.
James Morley	d».	6	&%
Daniall Crokatt	<€	6	d2_
Daniel Seton	d°_	6	d°r
Samuel Gambier, Junior	d°_	6	&~
D% Reader of divine service	6	d°i
John Blakemau, Surgeon		6	K

on £ 40

d!r

20 or.

on£ 30 on£ 50 on £ 51

d?^ is £ 15 or. d°T is £ 25 or. di is £ 27 or.

400 0 0

160 0 0

160 0 0

160 0 0

160 0 0

160 0 0

120 0 0

200 0 0

216 0 0

Rupees... 1736 0 0 Abstract of the Military Paymasters disbursements for April 1779 : —

Garrison Charges Charges Extraordinary ... Account Current, Broach... Account Current, Bombay Hospital Charges ...

9747 127

1350 728

1169

3 28 1 51 3 84

1 25

2 37

Rupees... 13124 0 25

B 1255—108

430

BUR AT DIARIES.

The Land Paymasters prices of the following articles for the year 1780, with the advance.

Prime Cost of 25 per cent.

Bamboos...

Baskets ...

Bees Wax

Black Dammer

Black Pepper

Brass

Brass Trumpet

Bricks, large

Bricks, small

Broad Dungaree

Buffalo Hides

Buffalo Puckauls

Buffalo Hides

Bunting, Blue, Broad

Bunting, Blue, Narrow

Bunting, Red, Broad

Bunting, White, Broad

Bunting, White, Narrow

Chalk ...

Charcoal..

Chunam, Coarse

Chunam, Fine

Coconut Shells

Coir, loose, first sort

Coir, loose, second sort

Coir Rope, Laccadiva, first sort...

Coir Rope, second sort

Copra Oil

Cotton Lace, White ...

Cotton Line, Blue

Cotton Rope, White .. .

Country Lime

Country Tar Country Twine

Cow Hides Emery, Fine

Europe Canvas

Europe Junk

Europe Rope

Europe Tar

Ghee

Glue ...

Goat Skins

Gogul

Gum

Gunny pants Varyara, l£! sort ...

Ganny pants do. 2i d0-. ...

Harty, fine ..."

Hartal, 2i sort

Hemp Rope

Jagree ...

Jenjily Oil

Indigo ...

Iron Work of sorts ...

Lamp Oil

Large Mats

Linseed Oil, Country

Linseed Oil, Europe ...

Log Line, Europe

Oyster Shells

3	2	0	4	1	50	Per hundred
2	0	0	2	2	0	D°
22	0	0	27	2	0	Surat Md
2	2	0	3	50	0	D°- "
20	0	0	25	0	0	D£
20	0	0	25	0	0	d°;
16	0	0	20	0	0	Each.
4	1	0	5	1	25	Per Mill.
2	50	0	2 262	0	D«
60	0	0	75	0	0	Per Corge.
60	0	0	75	0	0	DT.
7	2	0	9	1	50	Each.
9	0	0	11	1	0	D°
35	0	0	43	3	0	l'er Corge.
25	0	0	31	1	0	Do
42	0	0	52	2	0	Do-
30	0	0	37	2	0	Do
22	2	0	28	50	0	d°:
5	0	0	6	1	0	Per S. Mi
12	0	0	15	0	0	Per C«
1	2	0	1	3	50	Per Morah.
1	1	0	1	2	25	Per S. Mu
0	2	0	0	2	50	D°
6	0	0	7	2	0	Di
4	1	0	5	1	25	D°-
7	0	0	8	3	0	Do'
5	0	0	6	1	0	d°:
6	0	0	7	2	0	D°-
12	0	0	15	0	0	D°-
19	0	0	23	3	0	D<L
12	0	0	15	0	0	Di
7	0	0	8	3	0	l)i
4	0	0	5	0	0	Di
6	0	0	7	2	0	D°7
43	0	0	53	3	0	Per Corge.
9	2	0	11	3	50	Per S. Mi
32	0	0	40	0	0	Per Bolt.
3	0	0	3	3	3	Per S. Md
7	0	0	8	3	0	Do
5	0	0	6	1	0	Do"
9	0	0	11	1	0	D°l
40	0	0	50	0	0	d£
12	0	0	15	0	0	Per Corge.
2	2	0	3	0	0	Per S. MS
4	0	0	5	0	0	Di
15	0	0	18	3	0	Per Corge.
10	0	0	12	2	0	Do
14	0	0	17	2	0	Per S. Mi
9	0	0	11	1	0	D»,
2	1	0	2	3	25	Di
3	1	0	4	0	25	Di
4	2	0	5	2	50	Di
35	0	0	43	3	0	D»
8	0	0	10	0	0	D°-
4	1	0	5	1	25	Do'_'
3	2	0	4	1	50	Di
7	0	0	8	3	0	d°:
12	0	0	15	0	0	D°_
1	0	0	1	1	0	Per Skin.
6	0	0	7	2	0	Per Mill.

SURAT DIARIES.

431

Patingas, 1*' sort	22	2	0	28	0 50	Per Corge.
Patingas, 2<i do.	16	0	0	20	0 0	Dl
Patingas, 8* do.	10	0	0	12	2 0	D°!
Pump Leather	4	0	0	5	0 0	Per Piece.
Rafters, Baria, 1*. sort	15	0	0	18	3 0	Per Corge.
Rafters, Baria, 2d" d'.'.	8	0	0	10	0 0	D»_
Rafters, Baria, Sf d"..	5	0	0	6	1 0	D
Rafters, Daska	6	0	0	7	2 0	IK
Rafters, Coinodia	2	0	0	2	2 0	D»
Rafters, Solia, 1" sort	40	0	0	50	0 0	P?.
Rafters, Solia, 2d'; d^.	30	0	0	37	2 0	m,
Raw Dainmer	3	2	0	4	1 50	Per S. M ■'
Rod Byram	50	0	0	62	2 0	Per Corge.
Red Earth	C	3	0	0	t 75	Per S. M*
Red Lead	10	0	0	12	2 0	D°_
Rogan, fine	20	0	0	25	0 0	D.
Rogan, second sort ...	04	0	0	17	0 2	D°
Rogan, third sort	10	0	0	12	2 0	D°
Rose Water	2	0	0	2	2 0	Per Flaek.
Sale Dungaree	42	0	0	52	2 0	Per Corge.
Sewing Thread, I?l sort	1	0	0	1	1 0	Per Seer.
Sewing Thread, 2i d?_	0	2	50	0	3 12	D°
Small Mats	2	0	0	2	2 0	PerlOOCovits
Sulpher...	2	0	0	2	2 0	Per S. Mi
Tiles, large	1	0	0	1	1 0	lVr 100.
Tiles, small	0	3	0	2	0 75	Per 1000.
Verdigrease	42	0	0	52	0 0	Per S. Md
Vermilion	60	0	0	75	0 0	Per S. Md.
Wax Cloth	6	1	50	8	0 0	Per Piece.
White Lead	9	0	0	11	1 0	Per S. M".
Wood Oil	13	0	0	11	1 0	r>^
Water Mussack	1	2	0	1	3 50	Each.
Yellow Oaker	1	1	0	1	2 50	Per S. M«
Fire Wood	3	2	0			Per SL Candy
Sotta Timber ... \ ( Timber... ... >as per Contract ...<	12	2	0		•••-»•	Per Gun.
7	3	50			I.
Timber for Piles ... ) (	12	0	0			D".

3	0	0	3	3	0	PerS' M<
2	2	0	3	0	50	D°
6	0	0	7	2	0	Di
60	0	0	75	0	0	Per Corge.
9	0	0	11	1	0	PerS'. Md
4	2	0	5	2	50	D°l
4	1	0	5	1	25	T>°.
42	0	0	52	2	0	Per Corge.

The Military Pay Masters prices of the following articles for the year 1780, with the adv5f: — Prime Cost of 25 per cent.

Beef Bread

Coconut Oil Dungaree Gheo

Jinjely Oil Lamp Oil Sail Dungaree

The Marine Paymasters prices of the following articles for the year 1780, with the advce : — Prime Cost of 25 per cent.

Anchors ...

Axle Trees and Trucks

Bamboos...

Beef

Blocks, Europe

Bunting, Red, Country

Bunting, Blue do.

Bunting, White do.

Bread

Cables, Europe

Cables, Coir, Laccadiva

8	0	0	10	0	0	Per S' M".
28	0	0	35	0	0	Per Corge.
3	2	0	4	1	50	Por 100.
3	0	0	3	3	0	Per M '
0	0	80	0	1	0	Per Inch.
42	0	0	.">>	2	0	Per Corge.
25	0	0	31	1	0	I>°.
22	2	0	28	0	50	I'
2	2	0	8	0	50	D°
7	0	0	8	3	0	Per M '
7	0	0	S	3	0	1>-

432

SUJRAT DIARIES.

Cables, Coir, second sort

Cotton Match

Canvas ...

Chunam ...

Coir, loose, l8-^ sort ...

Coir, loose, 2i d°. ...

Compasses, Brass Box

Compass, Wooden Box

Coconut Oil

Dammer, Raw

Dammer, Black

Dungaree, broad

Dungaree, narrow

Ghee ...

Grapnails

Hartal, fine

Hartal, coarse

Hides, tanned

Junk Coir

Junk, Europe

Indigo ...

Iron Work of sorts ...

Lanthorns, Horn Other Pump, Country- Lead, White Lead Red

Linseed Oil, Europe ... Linseed Oil, Country... Lines, Country Lines, Deep Sea, Europe Lines, Hand, Europe... Lines, Log, Europe ... Lines, Seizing, Europe Nails, A sort Ooker, Yellow Oil, Jingely Rafters, large Rafters, small Rafters, Salliah Red Earth Rape, Europe Rogan, l!l- sort Rogan, 2i d^ Rope, Coir, 2i sort ... Rope, Coir, Laccadiva Tar, Europe Twine, Country Twine, Cotton Twine, Europe Verdigrease Vermilion

The General Storekeepers prices of the following articles for the year 1780, with the

	5	0	0	6	1	0	Per Mi
	12	0	0	15	0	0	B°J
	32	0	0	40	0	0	Per Bolt.
	1	1	0	1	2	25	Per Mi
	6	0	0	7	2	0	D°_"
	4	1	0	5	1	25	D^
	12	0	0	15	0	0	Each.
	7	0	0	8	3	0	Di
	6	0	0		2	0	Per Mi
	3	2	0	4	1	50	D<L
	2	2	0	3	0	50	Di
	60	0	0	75	0	0	Per Corge.
	42	0	0	52	2	0	D^.
	9	0	0	11	1	0	Per Mi
	9	0	0	11	1	0	Per Mi
	14	0	0	17	2	0	D±L
	9	0	0	11	1	0	d°;
	43	0	0	53	3	0	Per Corge.
	2	2	0	3	0	50	Per Mi
	3	3	0	3	3	0	DiL"
	35	0	0	43	3	0	d£
	8	0	0	10	0	0	D^
	90	0	0	112	2	0	Per Corge.
	2	2	0	3	0	50	Each.
	4	0	0	5	0	0	Per Hide.
	9	0	0	11	1	0	Per M?
	10	0	0	12	2	0	Da."
	12	0	0	15	0	0	d«;
	7	0	0	8	3	0	D2l
	7	0	0	8	3	0	DC
	5	2	0	6	3	50	Each.
	3	0	0	3	3	0	D°_
	1	0	0	1	1	0	D°
	1	s	0	2	0	75	D^
	2	0	0	10	0	0	Per Mi
	1	1	0	1	2	25	D!L."
	4	2	0	5	2	50	vi
	15	0	0	18	3	0	Per Corge.
	6	0	0	7	2	0	D2_
	40	0	4	50	0	0	D°l
	0	3	0	0	3	56	Per Mi
	7	0	0	8	3	0	D°-
	20	0	0	25	0	0	D°L
	14	0	0	17	2	0	D<L
	5	0	0	6	1	0	D°l
	7	0	0	8	3	0	Del
	5	0	0	6	1	0	D°l
	6	0	0	7	2	0	D2_
	16	0	0	20	0	0	D°l
	24	0	0	30	0	0	Per Mi
	40	0	0	50	0	0	D2,"
	1	2	0	1	3	50	Per Seer.

adv£L : —

Prime Cost of 25 per cent.

Bamboos	..		3	2	0	4	1	50	Per 100.
Bayonet Scabbards ...	,,		0	1	0	0	1	25	Each.
Bees Wax	. .		22	0	0	27	2	0	Per S. Mi
Bondge Barrels	, ,		2	2	0	3	0	50	Each.
Brass			20	0	0	25	0	0	Per S'. Ma
Brass Trumpets			. 16	0	0	20	0	0	Each.
Broad Dungaree	..		60	0	0	75	0	0	Per Corge.
Buffalo Hides	• •		60	0	0	75	0	0	D?r
Buffalo Puckauls	, .		7	2	0	9	1	50	Each.

SURAT DIARIES.

433

Bugle Horns Buglar Hides Bunting, Blue, Broad Bunting, Red dl Bunting, White d% Bunting, Blue, Narrow Bunting, White 6°. Camp Kettles and Covers Chalk ... Charcoal...

Coir, loose, l~ sort ... Coir loose, 21 d?_ . . . Coir Rope, Laccadive, 1? sort . Coir Rope, 21 sort ... Copra Oil

Cotton Lace, Blue ... Cotton Lace, White ... Cotton Matih Cotton Rope, Blue ... Cotton Rope, White ... Country Line Country Twine Cow Hides Drum Carts Drum Head Drum Hoops Drum Shears Emery, fine Europe Canvas Europe Junk Europe Rope Europe Tar Europe Twine Fife ... Glue

Goat Skins

Gunny Pants, Vanjaroo, 1*L sort. Gunny Pants, Vanjaroo, 21 d^- . Hartal, 1?5_ sort Hartal, 2^ d-2. Hemp Rope Jinjily Oil Indigo ...

Linseed Oil, Europe ... Linseed Oil, Country.!. Lamp Oil Pouches ... Pump Leather Patingas, l£l sort Patingas, 2^_ dl_ ... Patingas, 3rd d^l ... Rafters, Baria, la~ Sort Rafters, Baria, 2i- d2_ Rafters, Baria, 3^ di-' Rafters, Comadia Rafters, Daska Raw Dammer Red Byram Red Byram Red Lead Rogan, 1* sort Rogan, 21. da- Sail, Dungaree Sewing Thread, 1?L sort Sewing Thread, 21-d^ 1255—109

10	2	0	13	0	50	Each.
9	0	0	11	1	1	D°-
35	0	0	48	3	0	Per Corge.
42	0	0	52	2	0	Di-
30	0	0	37	2	0	D<L
25	0	0	31	1	0	Di
22	2	0	28	0	50	D?r
0	3	75	1	0	69	Per Seer.
5	0	0	6	1	0	Per 8. Ml
12	0	0	15	0	0	Per Corge. Per S. Mi
6	0	0	7	2	0
4	1	0	5	1	25	D?-
7	0	0	8	3	0	D°'.
5	0	0	6	1	0	T>'L
6	0	0	7	2	0	Dl
19	0	0	23	3	0	D°l
12	0	0	15	0	0	Dl
12	0	0	15	0	0	D°-'
19	0	0	23	3	0	d£
12	0	0	15	0	0	D°l
7	0	0	8	3	0	Di
6	0	0	7	2	0	d£-
43	0	0	53	3	0	Per Corge.
0	3	50	1	0	37	Each.
0	2	0	0	2	50	D°-
0	1	50	0	1	87	D»_
0	1	50	0	1	87	Per Sett
9	2	0	11	3	50	Per S. Ml.
32	0	0	40	0	0	Per Bolt.
3	0	0	3	3	0	Per S. M.
7	0	0	8	3	0	D?_
5	0	0	6	1	0	D°l
24	0	0	30	0	0	BL
2	3	0	3	1	75	Each.
20	0	0	25	0	0	Per S. Ml
12	0	0	15	0	0	Per Corge
15	0	0	18	3	0	D°_
10	0	0	12	2	0	D"5!
14	0	0	17	2	0	Per S.'Ml
9	0	0	11	1	0	T)°-
2	1	0	2	3	25	Dil
4	2	0	5	2	50	D<L
35	0	0	43	3	0	D<L
12	0	0	15	0	0	D?l
7	0	0	8	3	0	D°l
4	1	0	5	1	25	I>^
2	0	20	2	2	25	Each. "
4	0	0	5	0	0	v°-
22	2	0	28	0	50	Per Corge
16	0	0	20	0	0	D°-
10	0	0	12	2	0	D<L
15	0	0	18	3	0	D°
8	0	0	10	0	0	D°
6	0	0	6	1	0	DL.
2	0	0	2	2	0	D?l
6	0	0	7	2	0	DL
3	2	0	4	1	50	Per 8. Ml
50	0	0	62	2	0	Per Corge. Per S. Md-
0	3	0	0	3	75
10	0	0	12	2	0	DL
20	0	0	25	0	0	D»l
14	0	0	17	2	0	Dir
42	0	0	52	2	0	Per Corge.
1	0	0	1	1	0	Per Seer.
0	2	50	0	3	12	D!L

434

SURAT DIARIES.

Sulpher ... Sword Scabbards White Lead Water Massacks Wooden Drums

2 0

9 1

7

0

1 0 2 0

0 60 0 0 0

2

0

11

1

0

2 0

2 0 1 0

3 50

8 3

Per S. M*; Each.

Per St. Ml Each. D°_

Abstracts of the Military Paymasters Disbursements for October 1779 : —

Garrison Charges ChickJey Purgunnah Stationery Ware Account Current, Bombay Hospital Charges

9213

10

50

710

545

2 39

1 50 0 55

2 96

2 89

Rupees

10530 2 29

Surat, 19* May 1781. An account of the produce, manufactures, trade and cultivation of the several purgunnahs dependent on Surat : —

Obpad Purgunnah.

The produce of this purgunnah is batty, juary, wheat, badjaree, cotton, tobacco, errandy, &c. It is well cultivated, the villages are numerous and well inhabited. There are no manufactures of any kind : there is a little trade in cotton, grain, and salt. Revenue for this year Rf_ 229,187-2-34, which is more than what the Marrattas collected for some years. Adjacent to this purgunnah is the Town of Randier under the government of the Nabob of Surat which contains many manufactures of coarse goods for the Europe and Gulph markets.

Tassaravee Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary. It affords some wheat, tobacco, nagly, errandy, &c. Has many villages which are uncultivated and destroyed from having been for some years the seat of war. The few villages that it contains are almost deserted. There is no trade nor manufactures in this Purgunnah. The revenue of this year is Ri_ 33,917-2-33, but it may be increased whenever peace is established in the country.

Chowriassee Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is juary, badjaree, vail, errandy, tobacco &S?. It is very well cultivated. There is a great many villages, but most oftbe houses being destroyed by the late wars which have occasioned many of the former inhabitants to reside in Surat who cultivated this Purgunnah. The revenue for this year is Ri_ 12,500-3-67, which is more than was usually collected by the Marrattas.

Parchole Purgunnah. The chief produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some errandy, vail &™. It is in general well cultivated. It has many villages and is well peopled. There is a few weavers of coarse cloth. The revenue of this purgunnah is Rupees 115500-3-67, which is as much as the Marrattas generally collected.

Nowsaree Cusbah. The produce of this cusbah is batty, juary, sugarcanes, plantanes, mangoe, pineapples &??, fruits, ginger, turmerick, yams k™. It is well cultivated and many inhabitants in it, which are chiefly the cast of Parsees. There are manufacturers and dyers of coarse and fine cloth in this Cusbah. Some part of the Hon^6 Companys investment is made here, chiefly dooties for chintz. A considerable trade is carried on here at a Bunder in timber, grain, jagaree, cloth,

SURAT DIARIES. 435

fruits, &c», but most of the principal houses being burnt in the late wars which have occasioned the inhabitants to leave this place, tho* it is still tolerably well peopled. The revenue of this Cusbah is Rupees 13200-3-66 exclusive of the Customs, which is as much as the Marrattas collected.

BOHAREE PuRGCNNAH.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty; it likewise affords some juary, codra, errandy, &«?. It is well cultivated, and the few villages it contains are well peopled. There is no trade or manufactures in this purgunnah. The revenue is Rupees 5042-2-33, which is more than what the Marrattas have usually collected.

Timba Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, errandy, vail, nagly, &a±. Great part of it is at present uncultivated, having been for some years the seat of war. Many of the villages, which are numerous, are now destroyed and deserted. There are neither manufactures or trade in this purgunnah. The revenue for this year is Rupees 16666-2-66, but it is susceptable of great improvement when the country is quietly settled.

Gullah Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is juary. It also affords batty, tobacco, codra, badjaree, mutt, nagly, errandy, vail, limes, yams, turmeric, ginger, sugarcane, &<^. It is but thinly inhabited in consequence of the late troubles. Many of the villages have been de- stroyed and deserted. There are few manufactures and dyers in this purgunnah and a little trade is carried on in cotton, cupass, & doody. The revenue for this year is Rupees 27500, which, tho' much more than collected by the Marratta Government for some years past, is not equal to what may be expected from it when the times are more favorable.

Camlege Purgunnah.

Juary is the principal produce of this purgunnah ; it likewise affords some batty, codra, nagly, errandy, vail, tobacco, badjaree, mut, toower, mug, &?i. It is chiefly uncultivated, having been for some years the seat of war. Many of the villages are destroyed and deserted, and the remainder are but thinly peopled. There are no manufactures and /ery little trade in this purgunnah. The revenue for this year is Rupees 37500 exclusive of Chippah Gaut, but it is capable of great improvement when peace is established, and the present collection much exceeds what the Marrattas have usually recovered for some years.

SuTTERGAM PORGUNNAH.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is juary ; it likewise affords some batty, errandy, vail, tobacco, wheat, soorungey, limes, sugarcanes, &2?. It is fully cultivated and well peopled. There is no trade and few manufactures in this purgunnah. The revenue for this year is Rupees 72500, which is more than the Marattas have usually collected.

MOWTAH CuSBA.

Batty and juary are the principal produce of this Cusba. It also affords some wheat, tobacco, gram, errandy, vail, codra, chulay, toover, mug, &«?. In consequence of the late troubles, it is but thinly inhabited, and of course very indifferently cultivated. There are neither manufactures or trade in this Cusba. The revenue for this year is Rupees 3057-2-0, but when we have peaceable possession of the country much more may be expected from it.

MOWAH PuRGANNAH.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, nagly, codra, errandy, vail, sugarcanes, & .. There are some weavers and dyers

436 SURAT Dl ABIES.

of coarse cloth in this purgunnah. A little trade is carried on in grain and suronjee. The revenue for this year is Rupees 33333-1-34. It is tolerably well peopled, and it is capable of some increase when the country is settled.

Vulwadah Purgunnah. Batty is the chief produce of this purgunnah ; it likewise affords some juary, nagly, codra, errandy, vail, sugarcanes, tobacco, &??:. There are neither manufactures or trade, and it is but thinly inhabited. The revenue for this year is Rupees 6334-0-66, but it is susceptable of some increase whenever peace is established.

BULLESEER PURGUNNAH.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is juary ; it likewise affords some batty, nagly, codra, errandy, vail, tobacco, gram, oheebdy, &c±. It is indifferently cultivated, and the villages tho' numerous are but thinly peopled. Most of the best houses have been destroyed in the late troubles. There are some manufactures and dyers. A little trade is carried on in gram, cotton, &£5. The revenue for this year is Rupees 75000, which much exceeds the amount collected by the Marrattas for some time past.

Bardolly Gusba.

The principal produce of this Cusbah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some badjaree, tobacco, errandy, vail, codra, toover, mug, &c_|. A great part of it is uncultivated in consequence of the late troubles. Most of the best houses have been destroyed by the Marratta troops which encamped in Cusba. There are some manufactures and dyers of coarse cloth, and a little trade is carried on in cotton, cloth, grain, &2?. in this Cusba. The revenue for this year is Rupees 4250, but it is capable of very great improvement, whenever peace is established.

Antapore Porgdnnah.

The chief produce of this purgunnah is batty ; it likewise affords some juary, tobacco, errandy, vail, codra, nagly, sugarcanes, &S±. It is mostly uncultivated, having been for some years the seat of war. Many of the villages, which are numerous, have been destroyed by the Bhils. There are neither manufactures or trade in this purgunnah. The revenue for this year is Rupees 14583-1-34, but much more may be expected from it when we have peaceable posses- sion of the country.

Nassanpore Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty ; it also affords some tobacco, errandy, vail, codra, nagly, gram, &£_a. It is but thinly inhabited, and has neither manufactures or trade. The revenue for this year is Rupees 6166-2-66, but when in full cultivation a much more favourable collection may be expected.

Surbone Purgunnah,

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, errandy, vail, nagly, &™. It is in general well cultivated. The villages are numerous, but most of the best houses have been destroyed in the late wars, which have occasioned many of the former inhabitants to leave this purgunnah. However, it is still tolerably well peopled. There are but trifling manufactures and little trade in this purgunnah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 49500, which must needs exceed what has lately been collected by the Marrattas.

Soopah Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, sugarcanes, plantanes, turmerick, ginger, yams, errandy, vail, nagley, &??. It is indifferently cultivated and tho' the villages are numerous, they are but thinly peopled on ac-

SVRAT DIARIES 4JJ7

count of the late wars. There are no manufactures Bad a little trade in this purguimah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 4G081. 13ut it may l>e greatly Increased when we liave peaceahle possession of the country.

Valode PuRUUNNAH. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, erraudy, vail, nagly, &c\ It is chiefly uncultivated, having been for some years tin- seat of war, so that most of the villages which formerly were very DUMWOOi BTC now destroyed and deserted. There are neither manufactures nor trad- in this purgunnah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 88000. Rut it is susceptable of great increase when peace is established.

TlLLADEY PURGUNNAH.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise altords some tobacco, errandy, vail, nagly, &*\ It is in general well cultivated. The villages are nume- rous and well peopled. Rut many of the best houses have been destroyed in the late wars. There are some weavers and dyers of coarse cloth in this purgunnah, and little other trade. The revenue of this year is Rupees 85353-3-0, but it is capable of improvement in time of peace.

Gi/ndavey Purgunnah. The produce of this purgunnah is batty, juary, sugarcanes, plantanes, mangoes, ananas, and other fruits, ginger, turmerick, yams, &* ;_. It is well cultivated. The villages are numerous and well peopled. There are some weavers and dyers of coarse cloth in this purgunnah, and a pretty considerable trade is carried on at the bunder BiUemorafa in timber, jagree, and grain. The revenues of this year is Rupees 78325-3-50 exclusive of the customs at Rillemorah, which is as much as the Marrattas have in general collected.

Maroley Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, errandy, vail, nagly, &°_. It is in general well cultivated and the villages are numerous. But most of the best houses have been destroyed in the last wars, which have occasioned many of the former inhabitants to leave this purgunnah. However, it is still tolerably well peopled. There are a few weavers and dyers of coarse cloth, and some salt- pans in this purgunnah, and a little trade is carried on in salt and grain. The revenue of this year is Rupees 56714-1-50, which is more than has been usually collected by the Marratt

Currodk Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary : it likewise affords some tobacco, errandy, vail, nagly, &c*. It is chiefly uncultivated, having been for some years the seat of war, so that many of the villages, which were numerous, are now destroyed and deserted. There are neither manufactures nor trade in this purgunnah. The revenue for this year is Rupees 12833-1-34, but it is susceptable of very great increase, whenever peace is established.

Coss Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty; it likewise affords some juary, codra, errandy, vail, nagly, &5?. It is well cultivated, and the few villages it contains are well peopled. There is no trade nor manufactures in this purginnah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 6968-2-0, which is more than the Marrattas have usually collected.

Annavul Purgunnah. The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty : it likewise affords some juary, codra, errandy, vail, nagly, &c*. It is well cultivated, and the few villages it contains are b 1255—110

438 SURAT DIARIES.

well peopled. There is no trade nor manufacture in this purgunnah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 6231-0-2, which is more than the Marrattas usually collected.

Turkaseer Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and juary ; it likewise affords some tobacco, codra, errandy, vail, nagly, &oa. It is chiefly uncultivated, having been the seat of war for some years, so that the few villages it contains are mostly destroyed and deserted. There is no trade nor manufactures in this purgunnah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 1559-1-0, but it may be greatly increased whenever peace is established.

Bulsaur Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty, sugarcanes, and date trees. It likewise affords some juary, tobacco, vail, nagley, errandy, ginger, gram, ured, &2_a, and is in general well cultivated. The villages are fifty one in number and populous, as is also the town, which is large. A considerable trade here is carried on in wheat and timber, rafters and bamboos, brought from the inland parts, and the manufactures consist chiefly of coarse dutties, baftahs, and ginghams. The revenue of this year is Rupees 67761-2-67, inclusive of the customs, and may be increased provided the country remains unmolested.

Parnerra Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty ; and likewise affords sugarcanes, gram, tobacco, vail, errandy, nagly, ured, &^, and is tolerably well cultivated. It contains twenty -four villages, but most of them are thinly peopled, nor are there any manufactures or trade in this purgunnah. The revenue this year is Rupees 22916-2-67, which is nearly the same as in the time of the Marrattas, but it may be increased in time of peace.

Boteseer Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty ; it also affords sugarcanes, gram, vail, nagly, ured, brab trees, &c;\ It is but poorly cultivated. The villages are twelve in number, but most of them are very thinly peopled, nor are there any manufactures or trade in this purgunnah. The revenue of this year is Rupees 8250, and nearly the same as in the time of the Marrattas, but it may be increased in time of peace.

Nagurhavely and Neirah Purgunnah.

The principal produce of these purgunnahs is batty and nagly, and they likewise afford ured, gram dall, mug, bamboos, &2?. They contain eighty villages. Most of them are deserted from the frequent descents of the Marrattas from the Ghauts. There are no manu- factures or trade in these purgunnahs. The revenue of this year is Rupees 14788-2-59 including the customs, and may be increased in time of peace.

Arzeengur Purgunnah.

The principal produce of this purgunnah is batty and nagly ; it likewise affords sugar- canes, ured, vail, gram dall, date trees, &<;*, and is well cultivated. The villages are seventy-seven in number and well peopled. The town is small and walled in but thinly peopled. Trade is here carried on in wheat, timber, rafters, and bamboos, brought from the inland parts, and the manufactures consist of coarse dutties, baftahs, &£?. The revenue this year including the customs is Rupees 56977-1-87 and nearly the same as in the time of the Marrattas, but may be considerably increased when peace is established.

SUR AT DIARIES.

ttfl

Abstract of the Jemmabundy of the Hon1'!? Companya Revenues under Sural and ending

April 1781.

Purgunnahs Names.	(iross Jemmabundy.	Balance left to be r*MI by the B ossein Committee.	Ailvance for Damitge.	Fuml to defray the charges.	Net Revenue.
Peshxoa Purgunnahs Soopah ... Valode ... Surbon ... Oulpar ... Parcbole Bohary ... Bardolly Bulsaur ... Parncira Bhootseer Arzun Ghur Nagur Havelly ... Neira ... Omergauu	•	46081 0 0 8800 0 0 49500 0 0 229167 2 34 115500 3 67 5042 2 33 4675 0 0 73791 2 67 22916 2 67 8250 0 0 56977 1 87 5415 8 59 9372 3 0 20926 3 42	5982 0 0	2972 0 0 652 2 0 2047 2 0	3919 0 0 800 0 0 4500 0 0 20833 1 66 105- -0 0 S3 458 1 67 425 0 0 6708 1 33 2083 1 33 750 0 0 5197 3 08 492 1 41 792 3 0 1173 1 58	3P190 0 0 8000 0 0 '•0 0 0 208334 0 68 105' '00 3 34 4584 0 66 4250 0 0 670*3 1 34 20833 1 34 7500 0 0 51797 2 79 4923 2 18 7927 2 O 11733 3 84
Rupees ...	•656428 2 56	5982 0 0	5672 0 0	58615 3 39	586158 2 17
Gidcawar Purgunnahs. Gundave and Bellemorah Carode ... Tarkeseer Anaval ... Cass Tellady Marolly Chowreasoy Nowsary Visravey Cambrage Ditto for Chippah Ghaut ... Balliseer Sattergam Mowah ... Gullow Tembah Antapore Uutwadah Wassanpore Moutah Cusbah	78325 3 50 12833 1 34 1559 1 0 6231 2 0 6968 2 0 85353 3 0 56714 1 50 82500 3 67 13150 3 67 33917 2 33 41250 0 0 1650 0 0 82500 0 0 79750 0 0 36666 0 0 30250 0 0 18333 1 33 1604 L 2 67 6967 2 33 6783 1 33 3363 1 0		4910 2 0 1 245 0 0 4072 2 0 3000 0 0	6674 0 50 1166 2 67 141 3 0 566 2 0 633 2 0 7646 1 0 4785 2 50 7500 0 33 950 0 33 3083 1 67 3750 0 0 150 0 0 7500 0 0 7250 0 0 3333 1 33 2750 0 0 1666 2 67 1458 1 33 633 1 67 616 2 67 305 3 0	66741 1 0 11666 2 67 1H7 2 0 5665 0 0 6335 0 0 76462 2 0 47856 1 0 75000 3 34 9500 3 34 30834 0 60 37500 0 0 1500 0 0 75000 0 0 79500 0 0 33333 1 34 27500 0 0 16666 2 66 14583 1 34 6334 0 66 6166 2 66 3057 2 0
Rupees ...	701411 3 34		13228 0 0	62562 0 67	625621 2 67
Ceeded Purgunnahs. Chickly Bhattah Gaun , Virriow Cusbah	96250 3 67 22000 3 67 14924 1 0			8750 0 33 2000 0 33 1356 3 0	87500 3 34 20000 3 34 13567 2 0
Rupees ...	1,33,176 0 34			12006 8 66	121069 0 68

* Some of the totals given here are incorrect. But they are given exactly as they are entered in the Diaries.

40 SURAT DIARIES.

Abstract of the Jemmabundy of the JSonbJl Companys Revenues — continued.

Purgunnahs Named.

Gross Jemmabuudy.

Balance left to be recovered by the Bassein

Committee.

Advance for Damage,

Fund to defray the charges.

Net Revenue.

Pesbwas Purgunnahs
Net Revenue...					586158	2 17
Guicawar A°— d*L.					625621	2 67
Ceeded d^ d° ...	• ■ t* .			Rupees . . .	121069	1 52
	1332849	1 52
To which is to be added,
Peshwas Purgunnahs
their fund to defray
the charges ...				58615 3 30
Guicawars d?_ d!L				62562 0 67
Ceeded d?_ d?_ ...				12106 3 66
Amount transferred to
the Bassein Committee
Acci-, Omergaum ...				5982 0 0	139266	3 72
The amount to be re-
ceived by the Hontl? Company
			Rupees ..	1472116	1 24

N.B. — The allowance for damage is made on account of armys march from Surat to Bassein for the damages sustained by their different encamp"'!*, the crops being at that period on the ground and the loss unavoidable.

Surat, the 30'lL April 1781.

Estimate of the Persons to be employed and of the Charges probably to be incurred in the undermentioned Purgunnahfor the Year 1781-82.

For the months of May, June, July, and August, vizi.

Anhmel- dars

Soopah

Valode

Surbon

Oulpar

Parchole

Boary

Barcholly Cusbah ...

Bulsaur

Parneira

Bhootseir ... ... ,.,

Arzun Ghur

Nagur, Havelley, & Neirah

Gundavie

Carode

Tarkeseer ...

Anaval

Coss...

Tellady

Marolly Chowrasey ... Nowsary Visravy

Mettahs.

Jemi- dars.

3 2 3

6 3 1 1 4 2 1 4 1 3 2 1 1 1 2

2 3 2 8

Seapoys.

20 10 20 100 40 10 10 45 12

8 40 15 30 15

4 10 10 25 25 30 10 125

Trumpeters

Mushal men.

Number of Persons.

27 16 27

110 47 14 14 54 18 12 49 20 39 21 8 14 14 31 31 37 16

137

Amount of the

charges including

Paper, Ink, and

Lamp Oil.

190	2	0
89	2	0
188	0	0
473	0	0
273	0	0
85	0	0
86	2	0
241	0	0
83	0	0
61	0	0
2!7	0	0
93	2	0
266	2	(>
112	0	0
55	1	0
75	0	0
75	0	0
222	2	0
196	2	0
243	0	0
93	0	l!
503	0	0

SURAT DIARIES. Estimate of the Persons to be employed fyc. — continued.

441

	Auhmel- dan.	Mettaha.	Jemi- dan.	Sepoy a.	Trumpeters	Muahal- im-ii.	Number of I'eiaoni.	Amount of the charge* including Paper, luk, and |j»mp Oil.
Cambrage & Chippah Ghaut Bulleser	•		2 5	22 50		1 1	28	158 2 0 320 2 0
Sattargaum . . . Mowah			3 2	22 25		1 1	29 31	216 2 0 167 2 0
Gullah	1		1	17		• • •	21	140 2 0
Timbah	1		2	27		1	33	149 0 0
Antapore Ulwarah	1		5 1	60 7		1	69 11	264 2 0 72 0 0
Vassenpore ... ... ... .. Monta Cusba	32		1 1	10 4	"l	...	13 8	79 0 0 58 0 0
	35	79	858	32	22	1,058	5548 3 0

For the months of Sep tern	L., Octob-L, Nov I, DecL, Janri	-,Febr> ,	March & April,	rai.
Soopah			3	37		1	44	241	2 0
Valode			2	20		1	26	120	0 0
Surbon			3	37		1	44	241	2 0
Oulpar			8	175		1	187	708	0 0
Parchole			4	60		1	68	B8	0 0
Boary			1	10		...	14	85	0 0
Barcholly Cusbah ...			1	10		* . *	14	86	2 0
Bulsaur			6	90		1	101	392	0 0
Parneira			3	20		1	27	115	0 0
Bhootseir ...			2	19		• ••	17	80	0 0
Arzun Ghur			fi	65		1	76	307	2 0
Nagur, Havelley, & Neirah			2	24		1	30	132	0 0
Gundavie ...			3	52		...	61	827	2 0
Carode	. . ... ... . • •			2	25		1	31	142	0 (»
Tarkeseer	... ...			1	4		...	8	60	0 0
An aval	... ... ... ...			1	10		. . .	14	80	0 0
Coss...	... . • . ...			1	10		. . .	14	80	0 0
Tellady	. . ... • • . * .			3	47		1	54	293	0 0
Marolly	... ... .. .			3	42		1	49	252	2 0
Chowrasey	... ... ...			3	45		1	52	288	0 0
Nowsary	... ... ...			2	10		1	16	93	0 0
Visravy	..			8	150		1	162	578	0 0
Cambrage <$	Chippah Ghaut			2	30		1	36	182	2 0
Bulleser	. . ... ... • . .			5	80		1	89	410	2 0
Settargaum	«t ... ... ...			3	25		1	32	225	2 0
Mowab	. . ... ... ...			3	35		1	42	203	2 0
Gullab	... ... ...			1	25		• ••	29	164	2 0
Timbah				2	35		1	41	173	0 0
Antapore	. . ... ... ...			5	90		1	99	354	2 0
Ulwarah	. . * . ■ ... ...			1	7		...	11	72	0 0
Vassenpore.	.. ... ... ...			1	10	...	...	13	79	0 0
Monta Cusba			1	4	1	...	8	58	0 0
		32 35	92	1296	32	22	1509	6964	0 0

Abstract of the above charges for the month of May, June, July and August, for 4 months, at Rupees 5548-3-0 per Mi are Rupees 22195

For the months of Sept-L, Octob-^, Novi, December, Janu- ary, FeblSL, March & ApL, for 8 months, at Ri 6694 per Mi are „ 55712

Sural, 30 th. April 1781. b 1255—111

Total Rupees 77907 0 0

442 SURAT DIARIES.

June 1781.

Monday, 4^. — This being the anniversary of His Majestys Birthday, is celebrated in the usual manner.

Wednesday, 13'^. — Received the following letter from the Select Committee : — Gentlemen,

A war having taken place between Great Britain and Holland, and the Hon^l6 the Com- pany having sent out orders to their several Presidencies to act offensively against the Dutch settlements in India, we hereby direct that you forthwith take the necessary measures for dis- possessing the Dutch of their Factory in the city of Surat, and that you take possession thereof for the Hon1?!? Company, making prisoners of war of all Dutch servants, Civil and Military, belonging thereto.

All property belonging to the Dutch Company must be taken possession of for the benefit of the Hon^? Company, and must be ascertained and distinguished from private property with proper care and caution. An account thereof must be taken and transmitted to us, and also an account of the private property, the disposal of which must be reserved for our orders.

You will allow some proper place for the residence of the Dutch prisoners during the rains, with due attention to their security, and the prevention of all improper communication.

We desire you will avoid expence as much as possible in the maintenance of the Dutch prisoners, and which appears the less necessary, as we apprehend most of the Senior Servants are in good circumstances.

We are, Your loving Friends, WILLIAM HORNBY & G2L, Members of the Select Committee. P. 8. — Enclosed is a packet for Broach, which must be forwarded with care.

Surat, Thursday, 14'!l June 1781. At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esqi, Chief. Charles Bourchier. Daniel Seton.

George Green. Samuel Gambier.

Daniel Crokatt.

M-L James indisposed and M_l Spencer on service. Read and approved our last Consultation of the 28^ ultimo. Read a letter from the Hon^? the Select Committee, dated the 10$ instant.

In consequence of the foregoing letter the Chief and Council direct the Commodant to take the necessary measures for dispossessing the Dutch of their Factory in this city for the Hon^S Companys use, making prisoners of war of all Dutch servants, Civil and Military, belonging thereto. He is likewise to report to the Chief when the above directions have been executed.

Mess£L Green, Seton, and Gambier are appointed a Committee to take possession of all pro- perty belonging to the Dutch Company for the benefit of the Hon^? Company, which must be ascertained and distinguished from private property, with proper care and caution, and they must deliver into the Board an account thereof and also of the private property. The Com- mittee must likewise take a written Parole from each of the Dutch gentlemen, signifying that

I: AT DIARIES. Ml

they will not write to, or receive any letters or notes from any person whatever without imm. •- diately communicating the same to the Chief or the oilier on guard at the Dutch Bunder, and that they give true and faithful inventories of their private property, theme of whirl) th<-v are to be allowed on condition of their promising not to dispose of any part of it without per- mission of the English Chief.

The Board having every reason to believe from the great quantities of Spices, Sugars, and Japan Copper that have been carried out of the Dutch Bunder within these few days past that the greatest part of the Dutch Companys merchandize is disposed with the country merchants of this city in a collusive manner, which will be of very material prejudice to our I£onbie Masters interests, the Committee are therefore directed to examine carefully into the accounts of issues of the warehouse books in order to discover the merchants to whom these goods have been delivered.

The Committee are likewise directed to seal up all books and papers and to make parti- cular enquiry for the original Phirmauns from the Mogul and deliver the same to the Chief.

The Board deeming the Dutch Bunder the most proper place in or about Surat for the residence of the Dutch prisoners in the station of gentlemen, agreed that they may be ordered to continue there till further orders.

As not any of the gentlemen of the Surat Board understand any thing of the Dutch lan- guage, Lieutenant Goverts is appointed Linguist to the Committee.

Adjourned. C. BOURCHIER.

ROBERTS, GEO. GREEN.

Secry. SAMUEL GAMBIER.

Saturd'ty, 16* — Received the following Report from the Committee appointed to take possession of the property belonging to the Dutch : —

Gentlemen, In consequence of your orders, we proceeded to the Dutch Bunder, and after calling all the Dutch subjects before us, they executed the enclosed parole. We disbanded all their armed Seepoys ; and such private men, Europeans, as were found were sent prisoners to the Castle. A list of the prisoners taken is enclosed. We took charge of their Treasury and Warehouses and sealed the same up. We ordered all the warlike stores to the Castle and placed the Hon^l? Companys people in charge of their vessels. We discovered among the papers thirty -five wooden cases which contain the Phirmaunds. These we have delivered to the Chief; and sealed up the other books and papers of the Dutch Company. We are carrying into execution all other parts of your instructions, and as soon as we possibly can obtain the inventories and have examined the warehouses, we will have the honour to lay before you our proceedings at large.

We are with Respect, Gentlemen, Surat, 16 'A June 1781. Your most Humble Servants,

GEORGE GREEN. DANIEL SETON. SAMUEL GAMBIER.

444 SUE AT DIARIES,

A Translate protest done by us Subscribers to R. H., Boddam, Esqj;, Chief for the Noble English Company and Governor for the Mogul Castle and Fleet &_£. Council at Surat, in respect of what happened the 14*^ instant at the Noble Netherland Companys Bunder and to their remaining property in Surat : —

"W". T. Van de Graaff, Member Extraordinary of the Supreme Council and Director for the Noble Netherland Company in respect of her Trade and Concerns at Surat ; N. T. Sluyskeen, Senior Merchant, Chief Administrator and Second in Direction ; T. Van der Slyden, Merchant and Fiscal ; C. Van Citters, Merchant and Warehousekeeper ; C. Heydeman, Merchant and Cashier ; E. N. Wiardi, Junior Merchant and Secretary.

The City Surat is a place of the Mogul, where the Noble Netherland Company are esta- blished among other European nations, and have settled their trade, and where they equally send their servants to, in order to administrate the same, depending absolutely upon the Kings Phirmans given them as a pledge of a complete safety and the necessary defence both in respect of their own and their said servants.

A rupture of peace between the Sovereigns of any European nations here settled, con- cerns by no means therefore Surat, looked upon to be a neutral place ; and gives to none of, or amongst them, whatsoever right of coming up to each other in this city with military forces, without infringing by those means upon the Mogul Government rights, under which protection they all are equally settled here.

In respect yet of what concerns the Noble English Company, they have among all other European nations in town been established of former times upon an equal footing, above all for what concerns now the matter in question. They since in possession of the Mogul Castle> did never declare themselves wishing to be considered in a different light in respect of their condition as Governor of that Castle, and in consideration of this charge it plainly appears consequently and it results thereof that the English Government can as little as any other European nation in this city with respect to justice use any power or violence by the way of arms against any other European nation.

It is also to be asserted that the late French Chief did remain in consequence of this argument only quite quiet and unmolested in Surat during the last war betwixt Great Britain and France from 1755 till 1762.

It has constantly been a duty competent to the Mogul Castle and Fleet Governors, agree- able to their constitution and office, to protect against every injustice and violence every inhabitant, most especially their city dealers ; and the Noble English Company have also reserv- ed to themselves this part, at the time they took charge of the Castle Governors office. They have in this condition most possitively and significantly warranted the Noble Netherland Company chiefly every prerogative and immunity they and their subjects in Surat were especially entitled to ; comprehending mainly and in the first place an unmolested and peace- able abode for their own and for their servants. There is besides that a certain unquestionable proof, that this Mogul Government is actually to be considered subsisting still in this city in its full extent. The Mogul colours the Noble English Company hoists since they took pos- session of the Mogul Castle till this very day in that Castle. Whatever interpretations this may be given to would in our consideration be unworthy such a respectable body as we look upon the Noble English Company to be. Notwithstanding the trust this cou'd suggest to every European Nation here fixed also to every inhabitant of this place, we happened to be irrupted the 14*^ instant most unexpectedly by a large body of English Troops and by violence of arms. We and the remainder of the Noble Netherland Companys servants were declared prisoners of war. Those troops took at the same time possession of the Noble Netherland Companys

SURAT DIARIES. MB

Bunder and of their effects. We were instantly desired to deliver up the keys of all Magazines,

and all our men, the Serjeants not excluded, were carried prisoners to the Cattle. A Commit*

tee of 3 members of your Board, Mess"4 Green, Seton, and (jambier, dispatched to us since, declared to us by your orders they came in order to communicate t<> us also a rupture of peace between t lie United Netherland Provinces and his Majesty the King of CfoeaJ Britain, thai ire

therefore were prisoners of war and they were commanded to take the Noble Netberland Companys Bunder in possession.

We did assure those gentlemen of our reasons for being mightily surprized in respect of such a conduct to the Noble Netberland Company and their servants, that we intended dispatching a letter to you concerning this, is order to represent against it as we might think convenient. Notwithstanding they did read before us a Parole, and we were also desired to sub- scribe to it, and it has been subscribed to in their form by all the remaining servants of the Com- pany at the time still in the Bunder. We did submit to this under a Protestation, only in order to anticipate violent means, and considering that no representations could oppose, we were necessitated and have engaged ourselves not to receive or write any note or letters except under such conditions as stipulated, also to give man for man our word we should deliver up an inventory of our private propertys. All the Companys paper, lx>th secret and common, also all their Warehouses were not only immediately sealed up, but we wen at the same time desired to deliver immediately, as we did, all our Phirmans and the registers of our several papers. The Phirmans were packed and sealed up in a chest, considering time was short for their proper investigation, and when we desired your Committee to give us a receipt for the same we were answered in the negative. The first subscriber also desired the delivery of an inventory of all the Companys property. Part of this is in the meanwhile and since carried off the Bunder without notice being given. In short, we were treated in a manner we could neither refuse nor agree to anything. We were obliged to suffer everything, also to grant every demand to superiority, agreeable to which we did. Whereas we have then heretofore and with foundation demonstrated that the Noble English Company can in no respect with justice use any violence of arras against the Noble Netherland Company or their servants at Surat, we equally think ourselves intitled, gentlemen, to protest most explicitly against the violence committed both in respect of our Superiors and ourselves. We now and by these presents do protest against it in the name and in behalf of their high mightinesses t In- states General of the United Provinces, our high and competent Sovereigns, also in the name and in behalf of the Noble Netherland East India Company — reserveing to them a full power and authority in respect of a demand of such a satisfaction about all what is mentioned heretofore as they may demand or pretend in time.

Done at the Dutch Bunder in Surat this 16* day of June in the year 1781.

W. J. VAN DE GRAAFF. A. J. SLUYSKEEX. VAN DER SLEYDEN. C. VAN CITTERS. C. HEYDEMEN. E. N. WIARDI.

B 1255—112

446 SURAT DIARIES.

Surat, Saturday, 23 * June 1781.

At a Consultation, Present :

Rawson Hart Boddam, Esquire, Chief. George Green. Samuel Gambier.

Daniel Crokatt. Mess™ Bourchier, Seton, and James, indisposed, and Ml Spencer on service.

Read and approved our last Consultation of the 22i instant.

Reperused the Dutch Protest dated the 16!!l instant.

As the Dutch Factory at Surat is now abolished, and as the Gentlemen who compose their Council are no longer to be considered as a collective body, we do not think it proper to make any answer to their protest, but as some parts of it are too extraordinary to pass unnoticed, we judge it necessary to make a few remarks thereon for the observation of our Superiors. Their stiling Surat a neutral city is evidently a pretension which they have formed to answer their present purpose, for if they had entertained any idea of this kind before, the proper time of declairing it to us would have been when we took possession of the French Factory in the year 1778, as it would certainly have been their duty to do everything in their power to preserve the neutrality from violation, and therefore their neglecting to protest on that occasion was a tacit acknowledgment that Surat was not a neutral city, and we may justly conclude therefrom that they wished either to consider the neutrality as expired, or at least to let it remain in an equivocal state, in order that they might avail themselves thereof, in case of a favourable opportunity of acting hostilly against Surat, as they attempted to do against Bengal in the year 1759. Two strong circumstances in support of this opinion are, first, that the Dutch are too attentive to form to have omitted this precaution if they had not had some particular advantage in view by the non-observance of it ; secondly, that they have artfully avoided to make any men- tion in the whole of their Protest of our taking possession of the French Factory, as they cou'd not have mentioned it now without acknowledging that they then acquiesced and consequently gave up every right to be claimed from a neutral city.

With regard to our desiring them to give their parole to the purport of a form produced to them by the Committee, we meant it as a favor and indulgence, and it was certainly optional with them to execute it or not. We offered this expedient that we might not be under the neces- sity of making them close prisoners but allow them the full use of the Bunder, as well as the the use of their private effects, such as apparel, furniture, &c\ We therefore cannot but express surprise that they should represent this proceeding as an act of violence, and as it appears doubtf ull whether they do not mean to invalidate their parole by their protest, agreed that the Committee acquaint them with our sentiments on this part of their protest, and ask them if they choose to give seperate paroles for the purposes mentioned in their joint parole agreeable to the form first shewn them.

In answer to their complaint that they were treated in a manner that they could neither refuse nor agree to anything, the Committee solemnly declare that they have behaved towards them with every civility and attention consistant with the tenor of their instructions ; and that the Dutch gentlemen have since individually declared the highest approbation of the behavior of the Committee towards them.

The Chief acquaints the Board that he has seen the merchants to whom the warehouses in which the Dutch Companys merchandize is deposited belong, but who decline giving security, and they have delivered to him the keys of the respective warehouses. The Committee in con- sequence are directed to make the necessary enquiries into the title of those merchants to the goods and acquaint the Board with the result.

SUIt AT DIARIES. 447

The Chief likewise acquaints the Board that he has called upon Byramjec and Ruttonjee the Contractors for the Dutch investment, who acquainted him that tiny bad then in hand a con- tract to the amount of Ri 182000, for which they had been advanced to the amount of Rs 95000, that there were in two Dutch wan-houses within the town goods to the amount of R* 56000, part on account of the former years contract and part on the preeest, that these goods had not been delivered in charge of the Dutch Warehousekeeper or any of the Dutch gen- tlemen, that they had by order of the Dutch Chief delivered the four keys belonging to these warehouses to Nanabhoy Boysaw ; but that they had not delivered over to him the said goods, or passed to him any written paper concerning them ; that they also had been ordered by the Dutch Chief to deliver such goods as they might in future receive from the weavers to Nanabhoy Boysaw in part of the contract and promised to deliver to the Chief in a very few days the state- ment of both investments now outstanding.

The Chief has thought necessary to order such goods as they may in future receive from the weavers to be delivered into the HonMf Companys warehouse on their account.

We think it is absolutely necessary to embrace the present favorable opportunity to take copies and translations of the Firmauns to the Dutch, now in our possession, more particularly as our proposal for that purpose was so highly approved by our Superiors in Europe as appears by their late commands.

As the wall that constitutes the Dutch Wharf was during the time of its construction an object of particular jealousy to the English, agreed that we request our Superiors orders concerning it.

Agreed that we represent to our Superiors that most of the gentlemen in the Dutch Factory have a great many cattle and conveyances which are now entirely useless to them and incur a heavy expence, and request to know whether they may not be allowed to dispose of them as opportunities may offer on condition of their giving security for the amount of the sale.

As our Superiors may expect our sentiments with respect to the monthly allowances to the Dutch gentlemen, agreed that we propose the following, observing at the same time it is not in our power to form any judgement of what their circumstances may be, but they are in general married with families : —

Mi Van de Graaff, Directors

„ Sluyyskeeii, Second Four Council, 300 Ri each Captain Van der Knyt Mi Monte Dispencier

„ Peperhoven the Doctor

„ Roeff, Factor ... Five Factors at 50 Ri each Four Writers at 40 Ri each One Lieutenant ... ...

Deputy Master Attendant

1000	0	0
500		0
1200	0	0
200	0	0
200	0	0
150	0	0
100	0	0
250	0	0
100	0	0
40	0	0
40	0	0

Total... Rs. 3840 0 0

C*. BOURCHIER. GE°_ GREEN. SAMt GAMBIER.

448 SURAT DI ABIES.

Surat, I#» May 1800.

The following is the copy of the Proclamation above referred to : —

A Proclamation by the Hon1!!, the Governor of the Presidency of Bombay.

Whereas by a treaty concluded between the Hon^? English Company and the Nawaub Meer Naseer-uddeen Khan, under date the 13* of May 1800, or the 19* of Zilhige 1214 of the Hijree, the said Nawaub has agreed that the management and collection of the revenues of the City of Surat, and of the territories, places, and other dependencies thereof, the administration of civil and criminal justice, and generally the entire government of the said city and its dependencies, shall be vested forever wholly and exclusively in the Hon!^ English Company.

This is therefore to give notice to all the inhabitants of the town of Surat and its depen- dencies that the HonM? Companys exclusive Government commences from this day, being Thursday the 15* of May 1800, or the 21?L of Zilhige 1214 of the Hijree. All persons now in civil offices are to continue to act under the administration of the Hon^ Company until further orders, and their future permanency will of course in a great measure depend under the good pleasure of Government upon their diligence in their several trusts and their fidelity to the English Sircar.

Edward Galley, Esquire, has been appointed Collector of the Mokauts and Moghullay of the Purgunnahs, and Alexander Ramsay, Esquire, Judge and Magistrate of the City. The Natives in trust in these Departments are therefore respectively to continue to act in subordination to those superior officers, and such further appointments or regulations as may take place will be announced in a few days, it being sufficient for the present to intimate to all the Companys new subjects of Surat that the motives and object of the British Government in taking on them- selves the full and entire government of Surat have been and are to procure thereby a just, wise, and efficient administration for the security of the lives and properties and the promotion of the happiness of all its inhabitants, of which with Gods blessing the good effects may soon be rendered manifest.

Dated the 15* May 1800.

Surat, 17th; May 1800.

Wrote the following further letter to the Judge and Magistrate : — To

Alexander Ramsay, Esquire,

Judge and Magistrate of the City of Surat. Sir, I am directed by the Hon^? the Governor to enclose, for your information and guidance, the accompanying copy of a General Order issued under this date.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, JAMES A. GRANT,

Private Secy, to the GovZ..

SURAT DIARIES. 449

The following is the General Order abovenientiimed:

General Orders by the Hon"* the Governor.

Surat, 17'} May 1800.

The utmost attention to be paid by all officers to concili.it. ■ the goodwill and confidence of the Natives on the present occasion of the commencement of the Honorable Companys govern- ment of the City of Surat, with a view to realize to their satisfaction the object held forth in the Governors Proclamation of the 151^ instant, by convincing them that their general good and advantage are and will continue to be the primary view of the British Government in India in the present full extension of its protection towards them. For this purpose particular attention is to be paid not to shock the religious prepossessions of either the Mahometans, Hindoos, or Parsees, more especially by entering or occupying any of their Temples or sacred places under any pretext whatsoever.

By order of the Hon^ the Governor.

L. MACQUAIRE, Military Secretary.

Letter from the President and Governor to the Chief & Council at Surat : — To

Daniel Seton, Esquire,

Chief and Council of Surat. Gentlemen,

1. I have the pleasure to enclose the copy of a treaty concluded on the 13th of May with the Nabob of Surat, whereby the administration of the said city and its dependancies has been vested for ever in the Hon^? the English East India Company.

2. The Civil and Military Government having accordingly been entirely assumed by us since the 15th of May (the Nabob having been seated the day before on the musnud), it has in consequence become necessary to new model the whole of the Civil Establishment, on principles directed by the Supreme Government, to correspond, as nearly as circumstances may admit, with the powers of the officers exercising similar functions in Bengal.

3. It has accordingly been determined to commit the charge of the administration of justice, inclusive of the superintendence of the Police, the collection of the revenue, and tin- provision of the Companys investment to distinct persons.

4. The principal Civil Servant will be vested with a separate commission as Lieutenant Governor of the Castle for the performance of all duties of a political or other nature which shall not immediately belong to the establishments for the administration of justice, the collec- tion of the revenue, or the provision of the investment.

5. The troops doing duty at Surat are to be relieved as often as may be practicable, and the officer in command of them, being prohibited from all interference or exercise of authority in the administration of the government of the city, is to consider himself under the orders of the Chief Civil Servant. The force necessary for the execution of military services and the manner of performing those services, being questions of a professional nature must of course be left to the judgement of the Commanding Ullicer.

b 1255—113

450 SURAT DIARIES,

6. For the discharge of the duties adverted to in the two preceding Articles, Daniel Seton Esq L. has been appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Castle and the Chiefship is to be abolished on the receipt hereof, as is also the Council.

7. The Records of the Chief and Council are to remain in charge of the Senior Civil Servant for the time being, but with perfect freedom of access to all public officers for their information on points relating to the performance of their public functions.

8. In farther execution of the preceding system MJL A. Ramsay has been appointed Judge and Magistrate, MJL Edward Galley Collector of the Revenue, and M£. Soper Collector of the Customs, in which capacities they are to act severally under the oaths administered to and regulations prescribed for their guidance under direct responsibility to the Government of Bombay.

9. Mil Church has been appointed Mint Master and Post Master and Military and Marine Pay Master and Muster Master of Civil Pensioners.

10. The Commercial Board remains unaffected in its constitution by the present change in the Government of Surat, and may, I trust, experience increased convenience, security, and facility to its operations by the change.

11. The offices of Secretary to the Chief and Council, of Civil Pay Master and Persian Translator, are abolished, as is also the Accomptantship, those offices being unnecessary under the new system.

12. The Treasury is in like manner, as at Subordinates under the Bengal Presidency, to be under the immediate charge of the Collector of the Revenue, who will also in future have the negotiation and drawing of all Bills of Exchange, and the charge of all money transactions, pay- ing the amount of the Military and Marine Pay Masters drafts, and of all establishments on the presentations of the Bills of the Heads of offices, who are monthly to forward their own accounts to the Presidency, as he will also his, consisting merely of a cash account and general annual statement under appropriate heads for the information of the Accountant General and according to such forms as he may be furnished with for that purpose and accompanied with express vouchers for each entry, as the only authority on which any item can be passed on examination by the Civil Auditor.

13. Such farther detailed instructions as may be necessary will be separately sent to the several Heads of Departments.

I am, Sir, Surat Castle, 2^ July 1800. Your most obedient Servant,

JONATHAN DUNCAN.

INDEX.

rAoi

Abdul Baky Khan, his appointment to the Government of Surat (1751), 298 ; letter to the Chief at Surat from Delhi regarding the aforesaid appointment... ... ... 298

Abstract of the Jeminabundy of the Hon'ble Company's Revenues in Surat (1781)... 439—440

Acheene, the Queen of ; her kindness to- wards the Company's servants that voyage there, 27 ; her differences with the Dutch, ibid ; further letter from the Queen con- firming her former promises in granting the Hon'ble Company the whole trade of Acheene and other ports ... ... ... 41

Ahmedabad, capture of, by the Marathas

(1753) 305

Ahmedabad Saltpetre, its abundance and cheapness ... ... ... 3

Andrewes, Mathew 179—189, 193—206

Ann, Queen, news of her accession to the throne, 244 ; declaration read in the chappel of Surat regarding her accession ... ... 244

Annavul, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of 437

Antarpore, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of ... ... ... ... ... 436

Arzeenugur, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture trade and cultiva- tion of ... ... ... ... ... 438

Atchund, dispute between him and Suffdir Khan regarding the Governorship of Surat, 281 ; the English propose to assist him, ibid ; measures taken to render him assistance, 282 ; account of an engage- ment fought between his forces and those of his rival, 283-284; he defeats Suffdir Khan, 284 ; the terms of peace proposed by him to Suffdir Khan; dispute be- tween him and the Scidee ... ... 290

Aungier, Gerald, letters from 44 — 47

Aurungzeb, his Phirman to the Hon'ble English East India Company 213

B afc as, a kind of cloth, where produced ... 22

Bandora, the Portuguese erect a new Custom

House there ... ... ... ... 107

Banians, their treatment by the Arab sol- diers at Surat ... ... ... ... 263

Bantam, letter from the Agent and Council at, 91 ; prospects of trade there 91

MM

Bardollt, Cusbah, an account of the produce,

manufacture, trade and cultivation of ... 436

Bartlett, Robert, his appointment as Com- pany's physician for the island of Bombay. 245

Bassein, the Captain General of, he demands the surrender of a Malabar vessel, 85 ; otherwise threatens to invade Bombay, ibid ; his threat is treated with contempt . 85

Bezar, explanatory note on ... ... ... 42

Birmurly (Bhivandi), the weavers of ... 128

Bladwell, Richard, commission and instruc- tions given to him by the President and Council of India, Persia, Ac. ... ... 183

BontAM, Rawson Hart, Chief for the affairs of the Hon'ble English East India Com- pany 415,416,417,422, 424

Boharee, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of 435

Bombay, proposals touching the island of, 51 ; Moors forbidden to buy any land in Bombay, 98 ; weavers to be encouraged to settle on the island, 109; reduc- tions in the Customs duties on calicoes and certain other goods imported into Bombay, 110; the weavers coming to settle in Bombay to be exempted from the duty of taking watches and attendance in the militia, 110 ; Neema Parrack, a mer- chant of Diu, desires to settle on the island, 111 ; special inducements »nd privileges granted him for doing so, 112; raising of cavalry on the island, 119; nature and prices of the horses procurable in Bombay for the cavalry, 120; Captain Richard Keigwin appointed first Com- mander of the Bombay Cavalry, ibid; building for the Court of Judicature, ibid ; its situation, ibid ; reasons why the trade of Bombay was not as flourishing as that of Surat (1677), 121; its situation in an excellent latitude, ibid; excellence of Bombay harbour, ibid ; proclamation for shutting the town-gates at sunset, 174; instructions from the Hon'ble Company to the President and Council at Surat to take measures to make Bombay an im- portant port for the exportation and im- portation of goods, 225 ; probability of the French attacking it, 313; measures taken to defend Bombay against the French 313

Boone, Christopher, his appointment as Coro- ner of Bombay ... ... ... ... 167

Bote8Ber, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of. 438

11

INDEX.

Bourchier, Governor of Bombay, 292, 293,

296, 301, and 302

Broach, particulars regarding the Govern- ment of ... ... ... ... ••■ 389

BulleseekB, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of 436

Bulbar, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of 438

c.

Calicutt, condition of the English Factory there, 208; Dutch intrigues against the English Factory, 208 — 209 ; opposition of the Zamorin of that place ... ...209

Camauldeen Khan, Nabob of Ahmedabad, his negotiation with the Marath&s to deli- ver them the city of Ahmedabad on pay- ment of a certain sum of money ...

Cambay, disagreement between the Mard- thas and the Nabob of Cambay, 308 ; the Maratha plot against the town discovered, ibid ; the Maratha Governor there seized and plundered ... ... ... ...308

Camleqe, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of

Candry, the Siddy's design to attack it

Carwar, condition of the Company's factory there ... .t.

Cavalry, raising of Cavalry on the island of Bombay, 119 ; nature and prices of the horses procurable in Bombay for the pur- pose, 120; Captain Richard Keigwin ap- pointed first Commander of the Bombay Cavalry 120

Chickley, Jamabandi of, in 1778 ... ... 427

Chowriassee, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of ... ... ... ... ... 434;

Cloths, (Surat cloths), Chints, Quilts, Tapsells, Neccanees, Baftas, Salees, Brawles and Guinea stuffes ... ... ... ... 37

Coins, Bombay, their weight and marks ... 84

Coss, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of. 437

Cota, the Pirates at, 130; their base con- duct towards an Englishman ... ... 130

Corrode, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of. 437

Coroner, first appointment of ... ... 167

Covenanted Servants, list of the Hon'ble Company's Covenanted Servants at Bom- bay and factories Subordinate, with the time of their arrival in India, the salaries and designation ... ... ... ... 169

Customs, remission of customs to all mer- chants in Surat, 42 ; lessening of the Customs duties on calicoes and other goods imported into Bombay, 110; farm- i nig of the Customs Duties of Bombay ... 120

—212

304

-309

435 147

18

D.

Delhi, order from Emperor of Delhi to the Governor of Surat granting remission of customs for all merchants for one year, 42 ; the King of Delhi's orders to seize the persons of the Hon'ble Company's servants at Surat, Madras, Fort St. David, and Calcutta ... ... ... ... 235

Dianut Caun, Governor of Surat ...231 — 232

Dieriabands, a kind of Surat cloth ... 22

Dorril, Thomas, Chief for the Hon'ble Eng- lish East India Company's affairs at Surat, 277,278, 280 and 287

Drugs, their prices in England and India

(1702) 246

Dungarees, a kind of Deccan cloth, demand

for it in England ... ... ... ... 221

Duplex, his letter to Le Venior, French

Chief at Surat 276

Dutch, disagreement between the Dutch and the King of Kandy, 103; protests by the President and Council of India, Persia, and Arabia to the Dutch Director and Council at Surat for the murder of two Englishmen, 188 — 189; Dutch brokers imprisoned by the Governor of Surat, 262; beheading of a Dutch soldier at Surat, 278 ; letter from the Dutch Directore at Surat to Thomas Dorril, Chief for the affairs of the Hon'ble English East India Company on the above subject, 278 ; reply to the above letter, 279 — 280; letter from the Dutch Director and Council to the Chief and Factors at Surat regarding Dutch deser- ters, 314; reply to the same, 316 — 317; further letter from the Dutch Directore on the same subject, 317 — 320; reply to the same, 322 ; an account of the proceedings of the Dutch in Bengal towards the close of the year 1759, 329 ; differences between the Nabob of Surat and the Dutch, 342; correspondence between the Dutch Direc- tore and the English Chief on the above subject, 342—364; the English Chief saluted with fifteen instead of twenty-one guns by the Dutch, 371 ; explanation asked for the above affront, 371 — 372 ; the Dutch Directore apologizes for the afore- said mistake, 372 ; news of war having begun between the Dutch and the English in Europe, 442 ; instructions to seize the Dutch Factory at Surat, ibid; all Dutch servants at Surat, Civil and Military, made prisoners of war, 443 ; translation of a protest from the Dutch Directore and Council, 444; abolition of the Dutch Factory 446

E.

Echbarees, a kind of Surat cloth . Edgecombe, Captain, his conduct Surgeon Leekie ... ...

22 towards

165—166

INDEX.

iii

Elephant teeth, thoir selling price at Surat

(16(34) 24

Ettabar Caun, Governor of Surat (1701-2), petition sent to him by Sir John Gayer on behalf of himself and other fac- tors asking for relief against the harsh measures adopted against the Company's servants by the late Governor, 234; his reply to the aforesaid petition, 235 ; letter to him from Sir John Gayer complaining of tho hardships suffered by himself aud other sorvants of the Hon'ble Company at tho hands of his guards, 260 ; he is dis- missed by the Mogul and Nezbett Caun appointed in his place as Governor of Surat 262

Factors, list of Factors in Surat (1664) ... 33

Famine, its prevalence at Surat (1630), 12;

its evil effects ... ... ... ... 12

Fish-Manure, permission required for its use in Bombay, 66 ; its effect on the health of tho citizens, ibid ; Fryer's opinion on the same... ... ... ... ... ... 66

Fe.vmbin, letter from the Chief and Factors at Surat to Mr. Frambiu at Agra inquiring after tho price of indigo and other arti- cles there ... ... ... ... ... 3 — 5

Freeman, Simon, commission given to him by the President and Council of India, Persia &c. ... ... ... ... ... 181

French, a skirmish between the French and Dutch ships, 162 ; an account of the battle fought between the French and English, 328 ; letter from the French Resident to the English Chief at Surat complaining of his having been insulted by some sepoys belonging to tho Hon'ble Company, 330 ; further letter from the French Resi- dent on the above subject, 331; letter from the French Consul regarding the stairs in the French gardens at Surat, 304; reply to tho above, 395 ; further correspondence between the French Consul and the Eng- lish Chief on the same subject, 397 — 412 ; protest of M. Anquetil De Briancourt against the insults offered to him by the Nabob's people, 412 — 415 ; commencement of hostilities between France and England in Europe, 416 ; instructions from the Governor of Bombay to the Chief at Surat to confiscate the French Factory there, 416 — 417; French Consul and other French factors at Surat taken prisoners, 417 ; letter from the French Consul to the English Chief at Surat protesting against their being taken prisoners, 417 — 418; the French Consul requests the granting of certain indulgences to him, ibid ; his re- quests not complied with, 419 ; French designs against the city and castle of Surat 427 b 1255—114

r*'.«

Gaky, Henry, Governor of Bombay, 1 from him to the Onafuid Faetor at Surat rogardiug the granting of Company's passes to couutry vessels ... ... ... ... 211

Gayer, Sir John, his treatment by the Governor of Surat, 228—230; his letters to Dianut Caun, the Governor of Surat, 231 — 232 ; his petition to Ettabar Caun, the Governor of Surat, asking for relief against the harsh measures adopted by Dianut Caun, former Governor of Surat, 234 ; Ettabar Caun's reply to his petition ... 235

Gloria, Frea John De, a Portuguese Padree, his treasonable conduct, 157; his commit- ment and trial ... ... ... ... 158

Gullah, Purgunuah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of 435

Gundavey, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of 436

Gunpowder, sudden explosion of gunpowder

in the Fort of Bombay (1077) 131

Gyffabd, Deputy Governor of Bombay, his

death 122

Henry-Kenry, (the modern Underi and Kaneri), Shivaji's intention of building a castle there... .. ... ... ... 62

Hodoes, Thomas, Chief for the affairs of the Hon'ble English East India Company at Surat 884

Hope, James, Chief for the affairs of the Hon'ble English Companv <*t Surat, his Diary .'. ... 269— 27'i

Hospital, proposals for erecting one in Bom- bay, 74 ; usefulness of the new hospital, 120 ; reduction in the number of mortalities 120

Indigo, Agra indigo esteemed the best of all

Instructions, instructions to the Provost Marshal of Bombay, 168 ; to the Comman- ders of the Hon'ble Company's vessels ... 172

Iron, measures taken to spoil the vent of

. country iron ... ... ... ... 122

Johanna, the island of, its size and situa- tion ... ... ... ... ... ... 3

Junk, its origin and definition ... ... 6

Justices of the Peace, Captains Gary and Keigwin appointed Justices of the Peace for the Island of Bombay ... lo6

IV

INDEX,

Kandy, the King of, his raising a war against

the Dutch 103

Karanja, the Island of ... ... ... 48

Kempsaunt, his relations with the English . 173

L.

Lambe, F. H., Chief for the affairs of the Hon'ble English East India Company,

291, 294, 297, 298, 300 and 302

Law, Stephens, Governor of Bombay, 173 — 176 ; his instructions to the Commanders of the Hon'ble Company's vessels, 172 — 174 ; his proclamation for closing the town gates at sunset, 174 — 175 ; his publication to the inhabitants regarding sites for build- ing houses... . . ... ... ... 175

Leckie, John, Surgeon, his complaints against

Captain Edgecombe ... ... ...165 — 166

Lists, list of the Hon'ble Company's Cove- nanted servants at Bombay and Factories subordinate, with the time of their arrival in India, their salaries and designations, 169 ; list of free merchants, 171 ; list of deceased persons at Bombay and Factories subordinate to Bombay, 1 72 ; list of the Hon'ble Company's servants in Surat ... 247

Lucas, Sir Gervase, Governor of Bombay (1666), instructions regarding him, 210, payment of £1,500 to him in dollars, ibid ; consultation on the above subject ... 210

M.

Madagascar, its ancient name ... ... 3

Mahim, Bombay, condition of the Fort there, 241 ; instructions for its repair, ibid; charges for its repair ... ... ... ... 241

MarAthAs, their negotiations with the Nabob of Ahmedabad, 304; they take possession of Ahmedabad, 305 ; the neces- sity of complimenting them on their success on behalf of the Hon'ble Company, ibid; their designs against Cambay, 308 ; the Maratha Governor at Cambay seized and plunder- ed, 308, 309 ; disagreement between the Marathas and the Nabob of Surat, 386; the English Chief acts as a mediator between them, 387 ; final adjustment of the affairs between the Marathas and the Nabob ... 388 Marolet, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of ... ... ... ... ... 437

Merchants, list of free ... ... ... 171

Mercoleese, a kind of Surat cloth 22

Militia, Bombay, its total strength, 119 ; Brahmans and Banians exempted from serving in the Militia on payment of money, ibid ; how the Militia officers were to be paid, ibid ; the rates of their pay... ... 119

MOI

Minchin, Captain, account of a dispute between him and Mr. Hornigold, 78 ; Cap- tain Minchin and Mr. Hornigold suspended for misbehaviour, and Sued, 79 ; the fine to go to the Hospital Fund ... ... 79

Mocha, advices from, stating that the Turks

have received a fatal overthrow (1630)... 9

Moore, William, made Lieutenant of the third Company of guards at Bombay, 248 ; copy of the commission given to him ... 24N

Moro Pundit, Commander of Shivaji's forces, report of his having taken Joar from the Cooleys, 67 ; he takes Pindole from the Baja of B,amnugur, 96 ; letter to him from the Chief of Surat requesting him to instruct Tritnbakji and other officers not to use violence to the English house at Surat ... ... ... ... ... 115

Mowah, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of 435

Mowtah, Cusbah, an account of the produce,

manufacture, trade and cultivation of ... 435

N.

Nagurhavely, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of ... ... ... 438

Narran Sunay, letter from him stating that Shivaji is willing to satisfy the Hon'ble Company's debt 105

Nassanpore, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of ... ... ... ... ... 43(j

Neema Parrack, a merchant, special privi- leges granted him for settling on the island of Bombay ... ... ... ... 112

Norwich stuffs, demand for them ... 122

Nowsaree, Cusbah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of 434

O.

Ormuz, the red earth from 7

Orpad, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation

of 434

Oxinden, Chief of Surat, letter from him to the Hon'ble Company giving an account of the state of affairs there, 14 ; letter from George Oxinden to the gentlemen at Fort St. George describing the plundering of Surat by Shivaji 33 — 35

Padrek Medard, letter to him 372

Parchole, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of 43i

INDKX.

PAOI

Pabnekra, Purgannah, an account of tho produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of 438

Persia, expectations of the Hon'ble Com- pany's affuirs being better dealt with in Persia ... ... ... ... ... 14

Petit, John, Deputy Governor of Bombay .

122—124

Phirman, granted by Aurangzob to the

Hon'ble Company ... ... ... ... 213

Pirates, measures adopted for the protection

of Bombay against... ... ... ... 52

Porquatt, condition of the Company's fac- tory there ... ... ... ... ... 19

Portuguese, their evil designs against the Hon'ble Company's vessels ( 1 630), 9 ; their plan for the destruction of the Hon'ble Company's fleet in India, 12 ; conclusion of peace with them, 13 ; news from Alleppo of the Portuguese obtaining a great victory over the Spaniards ; an engagement between a Portuguese and a Malabar vessel, 84 ; the Portuguese pursue the Malabar vessel, 85 ; it takes refuge in Bombay harbour, 85 ; the Captain General of Bassein demands surrender of the vessel, ibid ; otherwiso he threatens to invade Bombay, ibid ; their jealousy of the prosperous state of the trade of Bombay, 1 20 ; they raise the duties on goods imported into Bombay from Thana and other ports, 120 ; they forbid all rice being transported to Bombay, ibid; Portuguese Padrees, 120; their persecutions, ibid, ; effects of their persecutions, ibid ; account of an engage- ment between the Portuguese and the Arabs (1704) 266

Portuguese language, measures for the discontinuance of the proceedings in Por- tuguese in all Courts of Judicature in the Island of Bombay ... ... ... ... 55

Prices, selling prices of different articles like tin, amber, quicksilver, lead, copper, vermilion, coral, &c, at Surat (1664), 23 — 24 ; prices of Europe commodities at Surat (1676), 104; prices of articles at Surat in 1780 430—434

Price, William Andrew, Chief for the affairs of the Hon'ble English East India Company at Surat, 385, 388 390

Protests, protest by the President and Council of India, Persia &c, against Thomas Richman, 187; protest by the President and Council of India and Persia &c. against the Director and Council of the Netherland East India Company 188

R.

Rajapore, proposal for the abolition of the Company's factory there, 107 ; reasons for doing so ... ... ... ... ... 107

not

158

Kamaoei ComuTTii

Red-lead, necessity of bringing men from England to manufacture it in Bombay ...

Rende-verkk, what it is

Richman, Thomas, protests against him by the President and Council of India, Persia Ac. 187

S.

Salaries, list of the Hon'ble Company's Covenanted servants in Bombay and their salaries (1737) 169—170

Samobin, vide Zamorin.

Sha-alym, son of Aurungzebe, an engage- ment between him and Ossumshaw for the throne of Delhi, 268 ; he defeats Ossum- shaw

Shivaji, plunder of Surat by (1663—1664), 14; alarm of his coming to Surat, 24; effect of the alarm, ibid; the Governor and the King's ministers take refuge in the Castle, ibid ; Anthony Smith is taken prisoner and carried before him, ibid ; Shivaji releases him after receiving a ransom, ibid ; he plunders the town and retires, 25 ; second alarm of Shivaji's re- turn to Surat, 34 ; report of his arrival near Gundavee, 34; he burns the English factory at Dungon and takes Mr. Austin prisoner, 81 ; the Company demand satisfaction for the loss, ibid ; Shivaji declines to give complete satisfaction, ibid ; he censures his General for using violence towards the English, 81; gives the Company his Coles or passports, ibid ; report of his being poisoned by his barber, 93 : his friendly understanding with the English at Bombay ibid ; news of his recovery, ibid; his army plunders Hanttanee, ib id ; le tter from Gerald Aungier to Shivaji, requesting him to issue instructions to his army not to molest the English at Surat, 115 ; news of a peace being concluded between Shivaji and the Mogul 127

Siddi of Jakjira, his request for wintering at Bombay, 95 ; reasons for not complying with his request ... ... ... ... 9i

Si monks, Edward, his appointment as Provost Marshal of the garrison and island of Bombay, 168 ; instructions to him by the Deputy Governor ... ... ... 168

Soopa, Purgunnah, an account of the produce.

manufacture, trade and cultivation of ... 436

Soi'therland, Serjeant, his murder by the Portuguese, 85 ; the Superior of the College of Bandora required to give satisfaction to the Company ... ... ... ••• 86

Sovaguzzes, a kind of Surat cloth ... ... 37

Saffdir Khan, dispute between him and Atchund regarding the Governorship of Surat, 281 ; the English propose to assist his rival, ibid} measures taken by the

*i

INDEX.

English to oppose him, 282 ; account of an engagement fought between his forces and those of Atchund assisted by the English, 283—284 ; he is defeated, 284 ; he applies for peace, ibid ; terms of the treaty proposed to and accepted by him, 285 ; he disbands his forces, ibid ; his departure for Scinde .

Suja Doulah, Nabob of Bengal, account of an engagement fought between him and the English, 379 — 381 ; peace concluded between Suja Doulah and the English, 382 — 383 ; conditions of the peace

Sueat, Governor of (1672), 60 ; his miscon- duct towards the Company's servants, ibid ; he objects to the President's depar- ture to Bombay, ibid; the President's remonstrance with him, 60 — 64 ; the Gov- ernor sends a body of troops to take pos- session of the Company's factory, 61 ; his demand for money, 61 ; his behaviour towards the French and Dutch, 61 ; prices of Europe commodities at Surat, 104; news of the arrival of twenty thou- sand Marathas in the vicinity of the city, 248 ; English preparations to defend their factory, ibid ; the Marathas plunder and burn part of the suburbs, 249 ; fears entertained of the city being destroyed, ibid ; Company's servants required to keep a watch over the factory there, 251 ; Joseph Oakely and James Love dismissed from the Company's service at Surat for disobeying the above requisition, ibid; dispute between Atchund and Suffdar Caun for the Governorship of Surat, 281 ; the English propose to assist Atchund against his rival, ibid ; measures taken by the English to assist Atchund, 282 ; ac- count of an engagement fought between the forces of Suffdar Khan and Atchund assisted by the English, 283—284 ; defeat of Suffdar Khan, 284 ; Suffdar Khan treats for peace, 285 ; terms of the treaty pro- posed to him, ibid; Suffdar Khan disbands his forces, ibid; his departure for Scinde...

Surbone, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of

Suttergam, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of

Swally, its situation

287

383

287 436

435 3

PACE

434

157

437

435

52 76

438

T.

Tassaravee, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of

Thorpe, Nathaniell, his conversion to the Roman Catholic faith, 157; he is apprehen- ded, ibid ; his confession ...

Tilladey, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of ...

Timba, Cusbah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of ...

Trade, measures adopted for the encourage- ment of trade in Bombay (1671)...

Turine, news of his death

Turkaseer, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of

Turkes, wars between the Turkes and the Persians (1630)

V.

Valode, Purgunnah, an account of the pro- duce, manufacture, trade and cultivation of

Varatt, its description

Vulwadah, Purgunnah, an account of the produce, manufacture, trade and cultiva- tion of

W.

Weavers, encouragement to be given to

them to settle on the island Weights and Measures, English weights

and measures only to be used on the island

of Bombay (1671)

William III, King of England, news of his

death ... ...

Z.

Zamorin of Calicut, his friendly relations with the Dutch, 208 ; the Dutch prevail upon him to drive the English out of his territories 208—209

437 105

436

55

oo

244

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